For the Love of God and People

by Elliot N. Dorff

Publisher:

Jewish Publication Society

, 2007

Overview

Every generation of Jews in every denomination of Judaism finds itself facing complex legal questions. The status of same-sex unions and the plight of the agunah (a woman who cannot obtain a divorce), are just two of a myriad of thorny questions Jewish legal experts grapple with today. These are not esoteric problems but issues with a profound impact on the daily happiness of countless people. How do the rabbis who draft responses to these questions reach their conclusions? What informs their decisions and their approach to Jewish law?

Acclaimed writer and legal expert Elliot Dorff addresses these and other questions in this intelligent, accessible guide to the philosophy behind Jewish law. In his view, Jewish law is an expression of the love we have for God and for our fellow human beings. This theme permeates his discussion of important aspects of the law. For example, what motivates modern Jews to follow Jewish law? How does Jewish law strike the balance between continuity and change? On what grounds and under what circumstances do human beings have the authority to interpret or even change God's laws?

Dorff also offers a systematic comparison of Jewish law and U.S. law, based on his course on this subject at UCLA School of Law. If you are interested in the philosophy behind recent rabbinic decisions, this is a book that will deepen your understanding of the Jewish legal system and its role in the modern world.

Key Features

• Addresses the importance and significance of Jewish law in modern day living
• Analyzes the theory of law and the major implications law has on our lives and actions
• Gives reasons individuals are motivated to adhere to Jewish law
• Compares positives and negatives to continuity versus change in Jewish law

Contents

• Bringing the Topic Down to Earth
• The Body of Jewish Law: How It Resembles Other Legal Systems
• The Covenantal Soul of Jewish Law: How Jewish Law is Unique
• Motivations to Live by Jewish Law
• Continuity and Change in Jewish Law
• The Relationship of Jewish Law to Morality and Theology
• Jewish Law and Custom
• Comparisons to the Right and the Left
• Applications of My Theory of Jewish Law to Specific Cases

Praise for the Print Edition

This is obviously the most significant book of the year for Conservative Jews. But, going further, I think it is a must-read for any Jew who takes his/her relationship to Jewish law seriously.

—Aaron Howard, Jewish Herald-Voice

This book is a serious attempt by a serious scholar to address contemporary issues facing Conservative Jews.

—Jewish Book World

Product Details

• Title: For the Love of God and People
• Author: Elliot N. Dorff
• Publisher: Jewish Publication Society
• Publication Date: 2007
• Pages: 296

About Elliot N. Dorff

Elliot N. Dorff Rabbi (Jewish Theological Seminary), PhD (Columbia University), is rector and Sol and Anne Dorff Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at the American Jewish University (formerly the University of Judaism) in Los Angeles. He has written twelve books and edited ten books. Since 1984, Rabbi Dorff has served on the Rabbinical Assembly’s Committee on Jewish Law and Standards, and has served as its Chair since 2007. Elliot Dorff has also served on several federal advisory commissions dealing with the ethics of health care, sexual responsibility, and research on human subjects. He is a member of the State of California’s Ethics Committee on embryonic stem cell research.