A Man Who Might Be Iran’s Next Supreme Leader Appears on Israel’s Border
Enemies at the gates.
February 9, 2018
Is Jewish Law an Expression of Heavenly Ideals or a Pragmatic Measure for Bringing Order to Society?
A 14th-century rabbinic debate on the purpose of the legal system.
In this week’s Torah reading of Mishpatim, God communicates to Moses a catalogue of civil laws, addressing such issues as torts, property, punishments for theft, and so forth. The German-born Spanish rabbi Jacob ben Asher (ca. 1269-1343), in the introduction to his codification of the corresponding body of talmudic law, attempts to explain the purpose of judges, courts, and the legal system itself, arguing that without such institutions, society would disintegrate into a war of all against all. Contrasting Jacob ben Asher’s approach with that of another Spanish talmudist, Nissim of Gerona (1320-1376), Shlomo Zuckier examines their radically different interpretations of Jewish law:
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Login or SubscribeFebruary 9, 2018
Islamic State May Be Losing Territory, but It Won’t Give Up on Winning It Back
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Is Jewish Law an Expression of Heavenly Ideals or a Pragmatic Measure for Bringing Order to Society?
A 14th-century rabbinic debate on the purpose of the legal system.