Crime and Punishment in Jewish Law

by Jacob, Walter; Zemer, Moshe

• ISBN13: 9781571811974
• ISBN10: 1571811974
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-09-01
• Publisher: Berghahn Books

Summary

The Freehof Institute of Progressive Halakhah is a creative research center devoted to studying and defining the progressive character of the halakhah in accordance with the principles and theology of Reform Judaism. It seeks to establish the ideological basis of Progressive halakhah, and its application to daily life. The Institute fosters serious studies, and helps scholars in various parts of the world to work together for a common cause. It provides an ongoing forum through symposia, and publications including the quarterly newsletter HalakhaH, published under the editorship of Walter Jacob, in the United States. The foremost halakhic scholars in the Reform, Liberal, and Progressive rabbinate along with some Conservative and Orthodox colleagues as well as university professors serve on our Academic Council. Book jacket.

Author Biography

Richard A. Block is Executive Director of the World Union of Progressive Judaism. He has a law degree from Yale University. Solomon B. Freehof (1893-1990) was rabbi of the Rodef Shalom Congregation, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; President of the Central Conference of American Rabbis and of the World Union for Progressive Judaism; and Chair of the Responsa Committee of the Central Conference of American Rabbis. Leonard Kravitz is Professor of Midrash and Homiletics at the Hebrew Union College--Jewish Institute of Religion in New York. He has served on the Medical Ethics Committee of the New York Federation of Philanthropies. Walter Jacob, Senior Scholar of Rodef Shalom Congregation, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is past President of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, past Chair of the Responsa Committee; and President of the Freehof Institute of Progressive Halakhah and of the Associated American Jewish Museums. Clifford E. Librach, rabbi of Temple Sinai in Sharon, Mass. has a law degree from New York University and clerked for Judge Robert E. Seiler, Supreme Court of Missouri. Stephen M. Passamaneck is Professor of Rabbinic at the Hebrew Union College in Los Angeles and past Honorary President of the Jewish Law Association. He also serves as a Peace Officer in the Los Angeles Sherriff's Department. Moshe Zemer is Director of the Freehof Institute of Progressive Halakhah. He is a founder of the Movement for Progressive Judaism in Israel and founding rabbi of the Kedem Synagogue-Bet Daniel, Tel Aviv. He is Av Bet Din of the Israel Council of Progressive Rabbis and Senior Lecturer in Rabbinic at Hebrew Union College, Jerusalem.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	viii	(1)
Introduction	ix
Part 1 Essays	3	(88)
Chapter 1 The Concept of Crime in the Jewish Tradition	3	(19)
Stephen M. Passamaneck
Chapter 2 What Is Crime?	22	(12)
Leonard Kravitz
Chapter 3 Assisting the Guilty: Halakhic Considerations	34	(11)
Clifford E. Librach
Chapter 4 Punishment: Its Method and Purpose	45	(19)
Walter Jacob
Chapter 5 Capital Punishment	64	(10)
Rabbi Richard A. Block
Chapter 6 Confrontation of Halakhah and Religious Violence	74	(17)
Moshe Zemer
Part 2 Selected Reform Responsa	91	(47)
Professional Secrecy and an Illegal Act	91	(2)
Damages for a Physician's Error	93	(1)
Suing the Rabbi	94	(2)
Malpractice Suits Against Rabbis	96	(3)
Confidential Information	99	(1)
Testimony Against a Family Member	100	(2)
Informing on Others in Criminal Activities	102	(1)
Electronic Eavesdropping and Jewish Law	103	(4)
Disinterment for Legal Evidence	107	(2)
Insanity in Criminal Cases	109	(1)
Unknown Defect in Building Material	110	(3)
Freeing Hostages	113	(1)
Jewish Lawyers and Terrorists	114	(2)
Punishment of Minors	116	(1)
Memorializing a Known Criminal	117	(1)
Garnisheeing Wages	118	(2)
Muggers and Money on Sabbath	120	(3)
Collecting Synagogue Pledges through the Civil Courts	123	(3)
Synagogue Contribution from a Criminal	126	(3)
A Criminal as a Member of the Congregation	129	(3)
An Unworthy Man Called to Torah	132	(6)
Contributors	138