Human Rights and Judaism

 IDI's Human Rights and Judaism Project is designed to give new meaning to the concept of Israel as a "Jewish and democratic State." The goal of this research project is to expose the common ground between “Jewish” and “democratic” by training an elite cadre of scholars to uncover the roots of modern human rights doctrine, while exploring the contribution of Jewish tradition to human rights.

 Project Description 

The Jewish and democratic State of Israel is characterized by tension between the universalistic principles underlying its democratic character and the particularistic concerns inherent in its definition as a Jewish State. Many critics see an irresolvable contradiction between Israel's twin identities, and increasingly call for the adoption of one definition or the other. These critics believe that Israel must either abandon its pretense of democracy and erect an authoritarian state of the Jews, or abolish the Jewish character of the state and reinvent itself as a multi-ethnic, supra-national democracy – a post-modern “state of its citizens.” Either alternative would carry serious consequences for the future of Israel and of the Jewish people.

IDI’s Human Rights and Judaism Project is designed to produce the ideological mortar that will enable the intellectual leadership of this generation to foster a strong sense of solidarity with Israel as both a vibrant democracy and the national homeland of the Jewish people, before Israel loses either its Jewish or its democratic character.

The project will achieve this goal by pioneering the development of a new field of intellectual inquiry, which will focus on “Human Rights in the Jewish Tradition.” The doctrine of human rights is commonly seen as standing in opposition to religious thought in general and to Jewish tradition in particular. Secular liberals often see Jewish tradition as a threat to democratic values and to the doctrine of human rights, while religious Jews often view discourse of human rights as an alien import that threatens Jewish values.

IDI’s Human Rights in Judaism Project will bridge this gap by engaging in a rigorous re-reading of the Jewish tradition. The project will uncover the Jewish roots of the modern doctrine of the universal rights of man, and will reveal the common ground between the Jewish tradition and liberal thought. This will pave the way for reconciling the “Jewish” and “democratic” building blocks of the Israeli polity.

Under the guidance of Prof. Yedidia Stern, Prof. Shahar Lifshitz, and Prof. Hanoch Dagan, the project will assess what Judaism, in its broadest sense, has to say about fundamental liberal rights such as liberty, dignity, welfare,  equality, and freedom of expression. At the same time, it will examine the unique set of rights and obligations offered by the Jewish worldview, and will explore their relevance to sovereign life in the Jewish nation-state. This two-way approach will expose areas of overlap and consensus between important parts of the liberal and Jewish lexicons, and will highlight areas of divergence between the two traditions in a way that will enable each to be informed and enriched by the other.

In order to meet these goals, IDI has assembled a team of dedicated researchers and is establishing a fellowship program for outstanding young researchers who are exploring matters pertinent to Human Rights and Judaism.  Stipend recipients will participate in an exciting “Enrichment” track, comprising a curriculum that includes courses on Human Rights, a seminar on Jewish perspectives on individual liberties, and text-based workshops dealing with the convergence of universal and Jewish values.  The young researchers will present the findings of their research during a series of seminars.

The project will also hold regular conferences, as part of its effort to buttress the intellectual foundations of a Jewish and democratic Israel.  Members of the research team will present their findings at an annual conference, and a bi-annual international event will bring together will enable them to meet with academic experts on human rights and scholars of Judaism from the world over. In addition, an annual public event will provide scholars, field workers, and activists from Human Rights organizations with a unique opportunity to exchange ideas. The project will also launch a public relations campaign in order to foster greater awareness of intellectual developments in this field.

For a more detailed description of IDI's Human Rights and Judaism project, click here.

For a information about the six 2011-2012 fellows and their areas of research, click here. 

For a full listing of members of the project's Advisory Council, click here.