Continuing Legal Education

Eighty-five years have passed since November 9, 1938 – Kristallnacht.
On the 85th commemoration, it is important to explore the role that the law played in setting the scene for that terrible night. How did the Nuremberg laws lead to Kristallnacht and the Holocaust that followed? What does that tell us about the power of the law?

This might sound like a boring topic.
But have you ever wondered why God would care about interest on loans? Or how Jews ended up being money lenders for centuries? Or how this reality led to unfortunate antisemitic stereotypes about Jews and money? There may be some material “of interest” here after all…

In an age in which most “blue laws” have been forgotten, and in which we are apt to see the Sabbath as a religious institution, it is easy to forget that, historically, the parameters of Sabbath observance were precisely legislated. In this CLE, Rabbi Schiff will discuss the Shabbat as a legal institution in American and Jewish law.

Sometimes, legal systems enact provisions that directly seek to elevate human conduct.
Jewish law does just that. In this special in-person CLE, Rabbi Schiff will explore the fundamental section of the Torah called “Kedoshim” (elevated behavior), and will clarify the intent of the numerous legal provisions to be found there.

People regularly engage in extraordinarily risky activities.
Is this Jewishly allowed? Given that everything we do contains some danger, how would we know when the risk is too great? Can a Jew go bungee jumping? In this CLE, we will consider the limits of risk-taking from the perspective of Jewish law.