The Oxford Handbook of Jewish Law

Jewish law, known as halakhah, is a unique legal system that has developed over nearly two millennia, across multiple continents, and in innumerable different contexts. Dealing not only with ritual, Jewish law extends to virtually every aspect of life, including ethics, business, war, and sex. This Handbook highlights foundational questions about the nature of Jewish law, emphasizing what distinguishes it from other legal systems and illuminating its vitality throughout history.

The Oxford Handbook of Jewish Law navigates core issues such as halakhah’s authority, interpretation, and the meaningfulness of an ancient legal system in a modern period. With contributions from an interdisciplinary cast of authors, the Handbook spans law, history, sociology, and religion. Its chapters draw from a wide range of sources, including traditional texts such as Mishnah and Talmud, rabbinical codes, and legal opinions known as responsa. Moreover, chapters addressing pressing modern issues cover the material from diverse denominational perspectives.

As halakhah remains deeply woven into the fabric of Jewish life and scholarship, The Oxford Handbook of Jewish Law offers readers an in-depth understanding of this rich and enduring legal tradition.

Zev Eleff is President and Professor of American Jewish history at Gratz College. Professor Eleff is the author or editor of 15 books and more than 120 scholarly articles, published in both English and Hebrew.

Roberta Rosenthal Kwall is the Raymond P. Niro Professor at DePaul University College of Law. Professor Kwall is an internationally renowned scholar and lecturer, having published over thirty scholarly articles and book chapters on topics including Jewish law and culture, creative theory, women’s issues, and intellectual property law. She is also the author of several casebooks, three monographs, and regularly writes opinion pieces appearing in the popular media.

Chaim Saiman is Chair in Jewish Law at Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. His work focuses Jewish law, legal theory, arbitration and insurance law and the interactions between Jewish law and American law and culture. Professor Saiman studies the beth din system and serves as a rabbinical court judge with the Beth Din of America.