What Happens When Elementary Schools Teach (Jewish) Law

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Why teach kids Jewish law? Professor Michael Broyde argues that teaching not just law, but legal thinking is perhaps the most important component of Jewish elementary education. Learning Jewish law and legal thinking, he asserts, provides students with five important skills for exploring not only legal questions, but life questions including negotiating personal and family relationships. Ultimately, Professor Broyde argues that the true value of learning Jewish law is the development legal thinking, which has applications far beyond the Jewish world.

Rabbi Michael Broyde is a professor of law at Emory University.
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