Nahum Rakover (

Hebrew Hebrew (; ; ) is a Northwest Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Historically, it is one of the spoken languages of the Israelites and their longest-surviving descendants, the Jews and Samaritans. It was largely preserved ...

: נחום רקובר b. 13 November 1932), professor emeritus at

Bar-Ilan University Bar-Ilan University (BIU, he, אוניברסיטת בר-אילן, ''Universitat Bar-Ilan'') is a public research university in the Tel Aviv District city of Ramat Gan, Israel. Established in 1955, Bar Ilan is Israel's second-largest academic i ...

, is an Israeli former deputy

attorney general In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general or attorney-general (sometimes abbreviated AG or Atty.-Gen) is the main legal advisor to the government. The plural is attorneys general. In some jurisdictions, attorneys general also have exec ...

. Rakover is a leading researcher in the application of traditional

Jew Jews ( he, יְהוּדִים, , ) or Jewish people are an ethnoreligious group and nation originating from the Israelites Israelite origins and kingdom: "The first act in the long drama of Jewish history is the age of the Israelites""Th ...

ish

rabbinic law In its primary meaning, the Hebrew word (; he, מִצְוָה, ''mīṣvā'' , plural ''mīṣvōt'' ; "commandment") refers to a commandment commanded by God to be performed as a religious duty. Jewish law () in large part consists of discus ...

to Israel's state legal system.

Legal career

Nahum Rakover is a prolific author on Jewish law and associated with the

Mishpat Ivri ''Mishpat Ivri'' (Hebrew: משפט עברי, "Jewish/Hebrew law/jurisprudence") are the aspects of ''halakha'' ("traditional Jewish law") that are relevant to non-religious or secular law. In addition, the term refers to an academic approach to t ...

movement, and is the author of over 30 books and 200 articles. In addition to important

monograph A monograph is a specialist work of writing (in contrast to reference works) or exhibition on a single subject or an aspect of a subject, often by a single author or artist, and usually on a scholarly subject. In library cataloging, ''monograph ...

s, he has compiled several bibliographies on the use of Jewish law in Israeli judicial opinions, legislative

deliberation Deliberation is a process of thoughtfully weighing options, usually prior to voting. Deliberation emphasizes the use of logic and reason as opposed to power-struggle, creativity, or dialogue. Group decisions are generally made after deliberation ...

s, and scholarship. He is the advisor on Jewish Law to the Israeli Ministry of Justice. Rakover's 2-volume "Jewish Law in the Debates of the

Knesset The Knesset ( he, הַכְּנֶסֶת ; "gathering" or "assembly") is the unicameral legislature of Israel. As the supreme state body, the Knesset is sovereign and thus has complete control of the entirety of the Israeli government (with ...

" explores the applications of Jewish law to the problems of modern Israeli society from a legislative rather than a judicial perspective. Of particular interest is his discussion of the 1980 Foundations of Law Act, which looks at the extent to which Jewish law can be used as a basis or supplement to the legal system of Israel.

Awards and recognition

Rakover's work has won him numerous awards, including: * In 2002, he was awarded the

Israel Prize The Israel Prize ( he, פרס ישראל; ''pras israél'') is an award bestowed by the State of Israel, and regarded as the state's highest cultural honor. History The Israel Prize is awarded annually, on Israeli Independence Day, in a state cer ...

, for Jewish thought. * In 2010, he received the

Yakir Yerushalayim Yakir Yerushalayim ( he, יַקִּיר יְרוּשָׁלַיִם; en, Worthy Citizen of Jerusalem) is an annual citizenship prize in Jerusalem, inaugurated in 1967. The prize is awarded annually by the municipality of the City of Jerusalem to o ...

(Worthy Citizen of Jerusalem) award from the city of

Jerusalem Jerusalem (; he, יְרוּשָׁלַיִם ; ar, القُدس ) (combining the Biblical and common usage Arabic names); grc, Ἱερουσαλήμ/Ἰεροσόλυμα, Hierousalḗm/Hierosóluma; hy, Երուսաղեմ, Erusałēm. i ...

.– Twelve given 'Worthy of Jerusalem' award – Jerusalem Post 13 May 2010
/ref> City of Jerusalem official website *In 2019, he was awarded

The EMET Prize for Art, Science and Culture ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

in the Humanities for Jewish Law.

Selected works

* ''Law and the

Noahides Noahidism () or Noachidism () is a Monotheism, monotheistic Jewish religious movements, Jewish New religious movement, religious movement based upon the Seven Laws of Noah and their traditional interpretations within Orthodox Judaism. Accordin ...

: law as a universal value'' * ''Guide to the Sources of Jewish Law'' * ''Multi-Language Bibliography of Jewish Law'' * Commerce in Jewish Law ''(HaMischar b'Mishpat HaIvri)'' * Copyright in Jewish Law ''(Zchut HaYotzrim baMekorot haYehudiyim)'' * The Rule of Law in the Jewish Sources ''(Shilton haChok b'Yisrael)'' * Unjust Enrichment in Jewish Law ''(Osher v'Lo b'Mishpat)'' * Human Dignity in Jewish Law ''(Gadol Kvod haBriot)'' * Ends that Justify the Means ''(Matara haMekadesheket et haEmtzaim)'' * Sacrificing One to Save Many ''(Mesirut Nefesh – Hakravat haYahid l'Hatzalat haKlal)'' * Environment and

Judaism Judaism ( he, ''Yahăḏūṯ'') is an Abrahamic, monotheistic, and ethnic religion comprising the collective religious, cultural, and legal tradition and civilization of the Jewish people. It has its roots as an organized religion in the ...

, Legal and Philosophical Perspectives ''(Eichut haSeviva)'' Rakover also was the editor of the following works: * Jewish Law in the Israeli Courts ''(HaMishpat HaIvri b'Psikat Batei HaMishpat b'Yisrael)'' 2 volumes. (English translation published as: ''Modern Applications of Jewish Law; Resolution of Contemporary Problems According to Jewish Sources in Israeli Courts'') * Jewish Law in the Debates of the

''(HaMishpat HaIvri b'Chakikat HaKneset)'' 2 volumes. * ''Jewish Law and Current Legal Problems'',

: The Library of Jewish Law

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rakover, Nahum 1932 births Israeli Jews People from Jerusalem Living people Israeli jurists Bar-Ilan University faculty Israel Prize in Jewish thought recipients

Legal career

Awards and recognition

Selected works

See also

References