דער קערפער פֿון השם"What would happen if you treated the #DeclarationofIndependence the way #Jewish tradition treats its own foundational texts — as documents to be pored and argued over, and put in conversation with ancient sources?
That’s the idea of “#Talmud of #America,” a collection of four #essays #published by the #PardesInstitute of #JewishStudies, and #Faith250, the brainchild of #Rabbi #MichaelHolzman of Northern #Virginia.
“The #Torah is a living document,” Rabbi #LeonMorris, president of #Pardes, told me recently. “Classic Jewish texts have something fresh and relevant to say about everything — including the Declaration of Independence.”
The four essays in “#TalmudofAmerica” — on equality, on “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” on the right of rebellion and on ideas of sacrifice and civic engagement — are written by Pardes #faculty members #YiscahSmith, #LeahRosenthal, #DavidIBernstein and Rabbi #RahelBerkovits."
