Introduction

Judaism's intellectual elites have long devoted their energies to the halakhah, a tradition that encompasses more than law but is structured legally. This book aims to expose the inner workings of the halakhah, examining key legal concepts, the purposes behind rules, and the roles of Jewish jurists by bringing halakhah into conversation with modern legal philosophy. This interdisciplinary approach bridges gaps between legal theory and Jewish legal thought, providing new tools to understand halakhah. The authors analyze primary sources through a conceptual lens, offering insights into how Jewish legal thought parallels and diverges from modern legal theory. Divided into three sections—law and religious meaning, scope of halakhah, and internal operation of law—the book addresses themes like legal perfectionism, realism, hard cases, and legal change. This volume is designed to engage both novices and experts, inviting readers to explore the deep structure of Jewish law through a contemporary legal theoretical framework.