The Center for Jewish Law and Contemporary Civilization represents a major contribution to the understanding of Jewish law and comparative law, and is significant on several levels. Its research, scholarly, and educational dimensions:
- enhance our understanding of the relationship between Jewish law, religion, and society;
- bring the perspective of Jewish law to bear on burning issues, such as the development of democratic institutions, civil society, toleration, and the role of religion in the public square;
- engage in an exchange of ideas among members of different traditions, both political and religious, on issues of contemporary concern;
- strengthen the training of practicing lawyers and other professionals for whom a knowledge of Jewish law and comparative law is essential, such as rabbis, lawyers in Jewish communal organizations, students in cognate fields of Jewish studies, ethicists, and political theorists;
- revitalize and advance the discipline of Jewish Legal Studies;
- broaden the influence of Jewish law on contemporary society;
- provide leadership in generating serious discussion of critical issues of the day in order to shape public policy, legislation, and editorial views; and
- promote the study of Jewish law at universities and law schools.
