Research Catalog

Title

A tree of life : diversity, flexibility, and creativity in Jewish law / Louis Jacobs.

Author

Jacobs, Louis.

Publication

London ; Portland, Ore. : Littman Library of Jewish Civilization, 2000.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Description

xxxii, 311 p.; 24 cm.

Summary

• "The central thesis of A Tree of Life, now revised and expanded, is that social, economic, theological, and even political factors have always played a part in framing Jewish law, as has consideration of the wider ideals of Judaism. Through discussion of historical and contemporary halakhic responses to a wide range of issues, Louis Jacobs shows how the halakhic system has demonstrated its potential for vitality, creativity, and sensitivity."
• "Louis Jacobs's call, in the last chapter, for a non-fundamentalist approach to halakhah was a cause of controversy both when the book was first published in 1984 and subsequently. The new introduction written for this edition responds robustly to the criticisms raised, and also summarizes new developments, both halakhic and scholarly, in the various areas covered."--Jacket.

Series Statement

Littman library of Jewish civilization

Uniform Title

Littman library of Jewish civilization (Series)

Subject

• Jewish law > Philosophy

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references (p. [263]-282 ) and index.

Processing Action (note)

• committed to retain

Contents

Introduction: Halakhah and Aggadah -- The Talmud, Source of the Halakhah -- The Spirit of Halakhah -- Exemptions and Extensions -- The Influence of Philosophy -- The Influence of Mysticism and Kabbalah -- Hasidism and Halakhah -- Responses to the Gentile World -- Halakhah and Sectarianism -- Halakhic Responses to Social Change: General Principles -- Halakhic Responses to Social Change: Further Examples -- New Inventions and Discoveries and the Halakhah -- Halakhah and Ethics -- Halakhah and Social Conduct (Derekh Erets) -- Halakhah and Psychology -- Halakhah and Minhag: The Customs of the People as Law -- Towards a Non-Fundamentalist Halakhah -- The Literary Form of the Halakhah -- The Problem of the Mamzer.

ISBN

187477448X (pbk.)

LCCN

^^^00021942^

OCLC

• 43323772
• SCSB-12184660

Owning Institutions

Harvard Library