Research

September 9, 2011

Book|Report podcast

Determining life and loss on 9/11 through Jewish law


Broyde is editor of a new book, "Contending with Catastrophe: Jewish Perspectives on September 11" (K'hal Publishing 2011).

After the great tragedies of Sept. 11, 2001, Rabbi and Emory law professor Michael J. Broyde was called to a new, sobering duty: helping determine, through Jewish law, whether enough evidence existed to say that certain Jewish individuals were dead. That was part of his responsibility as a member of the Beth Din, the largest Jewish legal court in the U.S. At stake were questions about the survivors' futures. For instance, could they remarry if no physical evidence existed of a spouse's death?

Broyde is editor of a new book, "Contending with Catastrophe: Jewish Perspectives on September 11" (K'hal Publishing 2011). The collection of essays on Jewish law, ethics and theology highlights some of the cases brought before the Beth Din while showing the workings of that legal system. It also brings together contemporary Jewish thinkers who grapple with questions about good, evil and responding to tragedy.

Broyde will be speaking about bioethics at Emory's Center for the Study of Law and Religion on Tuesday, Sept. 13, where he will also be taking questions about this book.

Listen to Broyde talk about "Contending with Catastrophe: Jewish Perspectives on September 11"

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