THE LIBRARY OF JEWISH LAW AND ETHICS VOLUME
JEWISH ETHICS AND HALAKHAH
FOR OUR TIME
Sources and Commentary
BASIL F. HERRING
This volume presents an in-depth yet lucid analysis of nine central ethical
concerns of modern society: telling the truth to a terminal patient, abortion
euthanasia, truth and the practice of law. civil disobedience. capital punish
ment, intergenerational conflict in families, homosexuality, and smoking and
drugs. The halakhic views on all of these issues, including dive
between the authorities cited, are presented clearly and sensitively The dis
cussion of each issue is fully documented with references to the Bible
Talmud, commentaries, codes, responsa, and contemporary halakhic
expositors. In addition, contrasting secular and non-Jewish positions are
surveyed, and each discussion takes as its starting point a hypothetical
case underscoring the relevant ethical dilemma as it arises in present-day
situations
The book's introductory chapter examines the relationship of ethics
and Halakhah, as well as certain historical aspects of the development and
application of Halakhah. Each of the subsequent chapters thoroughly
explores the treatment of one of the nine issues in the halakhic literature
both ancient and modern. In order to enhance the reader's understanding
of the halakhic stance on the issue in question, the relevant halakhic
sources are printed, in translation, at the beginning of each chapter and are
continually referred to during the course of the discussion. This unique
approach, which integrates the basic sources into the author's survey of the
halakhic literature on the issues under study, and thus invites the reader to
become an active partner in the halakhic dialectic makes the book an ideal
text for use in high school, college, and adult ed ation courses on Jewish
and comparative ethics and Jewish law
