The Study of Talmud: Understanding the Halachic Mind »

In The Study of Talmud: Understanding the Halachic Mind, Rabbi Abraham Hirsch Rabinowitz, a distinguished scholar and author, explores halachah_its fundamental principles, thought processes, and premises_by looking at it through the eyes of a halachist. Based on the primary sources of halachah and the writings of its greatest interpreters, this insightful investigation into Jewish law enables the reader to understand halachah as a living, dynamic system that is as relevant to contemporary life as it was 2,000 years ago. By looking at such topics as the relationship of Torah and the secular world, the ethical bases of halachah, the Jewish legal system, the special laws pertaining to the land of Israel, and halachic authority and its transmission, Rabbi Rabinowitz exposes the halachic mind to readers who may not be familiar with the study of Talmud. Many questions are raised and discussed, including: Does halachah consider the individual to be creative and self-determining? How are the Bible and halachah related? Is halachah really able to deal with situations in the modern world? How is the study of Talmud pursued?