Introduction to Jewish Law

Jewish law is a singular legal system that has been evolving for generations. Often conflated with Biblical law or Israeli law, Jewish law needs to be studied in its own right. An Introduction to Jewish Law expounds the general structure of Jewish law and presents the cardinal principles of this religious legal system. An introduction to modern Jewish law as it applies to the daily life of Jews around the world, this volume presents Jewish law in a way that answers all the questions that a student of comparative law would ask when encountering an unfamiliar legal system. Sources of Jewish law such as revelation, rabbinical and communal legislation, judicial decisions, and legal reasoning are defined and analyzed, and the authority of who decides what Jewish law is and why their decisions are binding is investigated.

'This penetrating essay will stimulate new research on Jewish law while also providing an invaluable resource for undergraduate and postgraduate courses – on Jewish law, on comparative law, and on religion and law. With rigorous attention to legal methodologies, and with well-chosen and wide-ranging bibliographies for all topics, the essay presents a refreshing account of the unfolding of Talmudic law as a field of study.' George R. Wilkes, Jewish Law Association, 'Dr Licari has written an excellent and concise introduction to Jewish law for the reader of English. He provides a masterful overview of the basic jurisprudence of this very unique religious legal system. Many would benefit from reading this work.' Michael J. Broyde, Emory University, Atlanta, 'This concise, well-written (if dense), and often brilliant study is far more than its modest title would suggest.' L. D. Loeb, Choice

François-Xavier Licari is Associate Professor of Private and Comparative Law at the University of Lorraine, France. He has published numerous articles in French, German and US law journals including The American Journal of Comparative Law, Louisiana Law Review, and Tulane Law Review. He has published and edited books on Theory of Law including a French translation of this current book.