How Jewish Laws and Customs Develop Over Time

How have Jewish laws developed over the last 1,000 years? How do Jewish laws develop differently than those in other legal systems? How do Jewish customs relate to Jewish laws? When do Jewish customs take on the force of law? How do Jewish customs start and how do they stop? Is there such a thing as a good custom or a bad custom?

These questions are considered and answered in this very approachable book based on a lecture given by the late Rabbi Edward M. Gershfield in the early 1970's. Many examples are given to illustrate the points made in this easy-to-understand lecture, which will appeal to anyone who is interested in understanding the unique nature of Jewish laws and customs and how they have developed over time.

Rabbi Gershfield was a Professor of Talmud and Rabbinics at the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) for over four decades in the latter half of the twentieth century. He received his Rabbinical ordination at JTS in 1958, and received a DPhil degree from Oxford University on Comparative Roman and Jewish Law in 1965. He served as a member of the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards of the Rabbinical Assembly in New York City. Rabbi Gershfield passed away in 2019.

An introduction by the editor is included, as well as a glossary of Jewish and legal terms, and an index.