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Flatto chosen as Penn Law’s visiting professor of Talmudic Civil Law


UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – David Flatto, professor of law and Jewish studies, was recently appointed Gruss Visiting Professor at the University of Pennsylvania Law School.

The Caroline Zelaznik Gruss and Joseph S. Gruss Chair in Talmudic Civil Law at the University of Pennsylvania was established by Joseph Gruss in 1987 by a bequest from his wife’s estate. Talmudic civil law is based on the Talmud, a collection of doctrines and laws compiled by Jewish teachers dating back to the 8th century. It is the foundational book of Jewish law.

Responsibilities of the Gruss Chair include presenting a public lecture on Talmudic Civil Law, which was presented by Flatto on Nov. 21. The lecture focused on Rabbinic Constitutionalism.

In addition, Flatto teaches a class of 20 students on Jewish law that focuses on the themes of his research in constitutionalism. He is also participating in workshops at the Katz Center for Advanced Jewish Studies at Penn throughout the year.

Flatto’s goals for his appointment include making scholarly connections and developing new lines of inquiry. The most pressing project in today’s world, he said, is finding constructive answers to the question of how multiple religions can coexist, engage with, and respect one another.

“I am grateful to Penn State Law, that has been supportive of my pursuit of this opportunity,” said Flatto. “I am also appreciative of Penn Law, and am having a wonderful time advancing my scholarship there. I hope this will also enable future collaborations with other scholars.”

At Penn State Law, Flatto teaches Constitutional Law, Elements of Law, Employment Law and Jurisprudence. He is also a visiting professor and lecturer at Hebrew University Law School, New York University Law School, and Yeshiva University. His research interests include constitutional law and theory, and Jewish and comparative jurisprudence. In particular, his interest lies in the intersection of government and public law and tradition, using western ideas to illuminate our understanding of religious legal traditions. Flatto is currently completing a book entitled, “Justice Unbound: Separation of Powers in the Early Jewish Imagination.”

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