RELI 230 - Jewish Law in Action

Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)

(Same as JWST 230) An introduction to the heart of Judaism—the law developed by the rabbis over the course of millennia. We explore highly challenging legal institutions including themes of marriage and divorce, conversion, the relationship between Jews and non-Jews, gender and sexuality, questions of authority and rebelliousness. How were these practices—seemingly around forever— first established? How have they developed over the centuries, and how are they being reconfigured in post-modernity by contemporary halakhic activism?

Topic for 2025/26a: Regulated Violence: War and Self-defense. Although Jewish communities had no executive power to implement policies of war or peace for most of the last two millennia, the theme of communal and individual violence and self-defense was always well-researched and discussed in Jewish law. This class is going to look at how these two themes were articulated in the classical Jewish legal corpora including the Hebrew Bible, Talmud, Medieval and later authoritative legal texts. Agnes Veto.

Two 75-minute periods.

Course Format: CLS