Living Tree : the Roots and Growth of Jewish Law

Print version:

Front Matter

Half Title Page

Title Page

Copyright Page

Dedication Page

Table of Contents

Preface

Acknowledgments

Content

PART I: The Literature and Methodsof Jewish Law

Introduction

A. THE ORIGINS AND AIMS OF THIS BOOK

B. THE STRUCTURE AND METHODS OF THIS BOOK

C. WHO ARE THE JEWS?

D. COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT JEWISH LAW

Topic One: Biblical Law

A. THE BIBLICAL WORLD

B. FUNDAMENTALIST AND HISTORICAL APPROACHES TO THE BIBLE

C. THE STRUCTURE AND CONTENTS OF THE BIBLE

D. THE BIBLICAL LAW CODES Topic Two: The Biblical Law of InjuryA. THE COVENANT CODE'S TREATMENT OF PERSONAL INJURY

B. THE CODE Of HAMMURABI

C. THE HITTITE LAWS

Topic Tllree: Biblical Jurisprudence

A. LAW AND WORLD VIEW

B. BIBLICAL METHODS Of RESOLVING DISPUTES

C. THE SOURCE OF THE LAW AND LEGAL OBEDIENCE: THE COVENANT

D. REASONS FOR OBEYING THE LAW

E. LAW AND JUSTICE IN THE BIBLE: THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MORAL NORMS AND GOD'S WORD

F. BIBLICAL LAW AND CHANGE: ADAPTING DIVINE LAW TO NEW CIRCUMSTANCES

Topic Four: Rabbinic Law of Injuries A. AN OVERVIEW OF THE HISTORY AND LITERATURE OF THE SECOND TEMPLE AND RABBINIC PERIODSB. MIDRASH HALAKHAH

C. MISHNAH

D. CALIFORNIA JURY INSTRUCTIONS

E. GEMARA ON INJURIES: BAVA KAMMA 83b-84a, 85a-86a, 86b, 90b

F. SECTARIAN LAWS OF INJURIES

Topic Five: The Oral Torah: Rabbinic Exegesis and Oral Traditions

A. Two WAYS OF DEALING WITH A FIXED TEXT I: EXEGESIS AND ITS JUSTIFICATION

B. Two WAYS OF DEALING WITH A FIXED TEXT-I: THE METHODS ANDUSE OF EXEGESIS

C. Two WAYS OF DEALING WITH A FIXED TEXT-II: THE ORALTRADITION

D. Continuity and Change E. The Limits of the Flexibility of the Text and the Tradition: Opposition Movements in Jewish Legal HistoryTopic Six: The Authority and Morality of the Tradition

A. THE BASIS FOR OBEDIENCE OF THE LAW

B. LAW AND MORALITY

Topic Seven: Rabbinic Court Procedures

A. THE STRUCTURE AND JURISDICTION OF COURTS

B. SYSTEMS OF PROOF AND RULES OF EVIDENCE

C. PROBLEMS WITH USING COURTS

D. ALTERNATIVES TO COURTS

Topic Eight: The Responsa Literature

A. THE TALMUDIC AND GEONIC PERIODS: HESITANT BEGINNINGS B. THE ELEVENTH TO FIFTEENTH CENTURIES: FRANCO-GERMANY AND SPAIN-NORTH AFRICAC. THE SIXTEENTH TO TWENTIETH CENTURIES: THE AHARONIM OF THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN AND EASTERN EUROPE

D. WORLD WAR II-PRESENT: AMERICA: FOUR MOVEMENTS, FOUR CONCEPTIONS OF JEWISH LAW

E. WORLD WAR II-PRESENT: ISRAEL

Topic Nine: Codes

A. THE TYPES OF CODES AND THEIR USE

B. THE LITERATURE OF JEWISH CODIFICATION

C. PROS AND CONS OF CODIFICATION

D, EXAMPLE OF CODIFICATION: MAIMONIDES ON PERSONAL INJURIES

Topic Ten: Legislation (Takkanot)