The Myth of the Cultural Jew

Roberta Rosenthal Kwall is the Raymond P. Niro Professor of Law at DePaul University College of Law. Prior to teaching at DePaul, she practiced law at Sidley & Austin in Chicago and served as a judicial clerk for Judge Leonard I. Garth, U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit. Kwall earned her law degree from the University of Pennsylvania and received her undergraduate degree from Brown University. Currently she is completing a Master's Degree in Jewish Studies.Kwall is an internationally renowned scholar and lecturer and has published articles on a wide variety of topics including Jewish law and culture, intellectual property, and property law. Her book, The Soul of Creativity: Forging a Moral Rights Law for the United States, is the seminal work in this area. She has received numerous awards for teaching and scholarship and in 2006, was designated as one of the 10 Best Law Professors in Illinois by Chicago Lawyer magazine.

• AcknowledgmentsIntroduction--The Myth of the Cultural Jew1. Culture, Law, and the Development of Jewish Tradition2. Origins and Development of Jewish Law: A Top-Down View3. The Norms of Jewish Law Observance: A Bottom-up View4. The Birth of Jewish Denominations in Modernity and Their Divergent Views on Jewish Law5. Foundational Conflicts: "Who is a Jew" and Sabbath Laws6. Homosexuality7. Women and Synagogue Ritual8. The State of Israel's Role in Forging Jewish Law and Culture in the Post-Holocaust Era9. Jewish Identity in the United States10.The Lessons of Cultural AnalysisIndex

A brilliant exploration of the relationship between law and culture in the context of Judaism. Kwall offers a provocative thesis and impressively analyzes a myriad of contemporary topics. This book is a 'must read' not only for all interested in Judaism, but for all who are studying the relationship between law and culture.