Jewish Law Institute - Conferences

The Jewish Law Institute organizes conferences that focus on a wide range of subjects of interest to Jewish legal scholars and Jewish lawyers, as well as the broader legal academy, the practicing bar, and the Jewish community.

PAST EVENTS:

Disability Rights & Inclusion: Expanding the Conversation

March 6-7, 2025

The conference brought together thought leaders from across the United States and around the world to assess the current state of disability rights and inclusion, explore innovative programs and approaches, consider lessons learned, and develop strategies and recommendations for promoting disability rights and inclusion across a variety of settings.

The conference speakers included researchers and scholars representing a wide range of disciplines, lawyers and advocates, communal and organizational leaders, employers, service providers, and educators. Many of the speakers shared their perspectives as individuals with disabilities, family, friends, and caregivers.

See conference videos and the conference program on the conference page.

March 7-8, 2024

On March 7 and 8, 2024, Touro University Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center hosted a two-day conference on Disability Rights and Inclusion. The conference brought together leaders to explore innovative programs and approaches, consider lessons learned, and develop strategies and recommendations for promoting disability rights and inclusion across various settings. Experts in the field from across the nation participated, including Brian A. Boyd from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Elizabeth F. Emens from Columbia Law School, and Dr. Lawrence Fung from Stanford University. The conference was organized in partnership with Touro Law Center's Jewish Law Institute. 

See all conference videos and the program on the conference page.

 

Jewish Law in Comparative Context

September 14, 2020

On September 14, 2020, the Jewish Law Institute hosted a virtual conference, "Jewish Law in Comparative Context." The all-day conference featured prominent scholars from around the United States and Israel, who addressed areas of comparison between Jewish law and other legal systems. Among other themes, the conference focused on issues of disability rights and inclusion in Jewish and American law.

Presentations at the conference included keynote addresses delivered by the Honorable Elyakim Rubinstein, former Deputy President of the Supreme Court of Israel, Rabbi Michael Levy, President of Yad HaChazakah --The Jewish Disability Empowerment Center, and Professor Stephen Mark Shore, an internationally renowned speaker on autism.

Conference Program

Jewish Law in Comparative Context Conference Schedule

Conference Videos

Jewish Law in Comparative Context Conference Video Part 1

Jewish Law in Comparative Context Conference Video Part 2

 

Jewish Law and American Law: A Comparative Study.

April 1, 2019

On April 1, 2019, Touro Law Center, Touro Law Review, and the Jewish Law Institute hosted a national conference, "Jewish Law and American Law: A Comparative Study." The conference proceedings included presentations by leading scholars from across the United States and Israel, exploring a variety of areas within the two legal systems. Among other topics, speakers addressed substantive areas of law, legal practice and scholarship, law and equity, and philosophical and policy considerations. Papers from the conference will be published in a special issue of the Touro Law Review.

Benjamin N. Cardozo: Judge, Justice, Scholar

March 23-24, 2017

On March 23-24, 2017, Touro Law Center and the Jewish Law Institute hosted a national conference, Benjamin N. Cardozo: Judge, Justice, Scholar. More than thirty judges, lawyers, and scholars, hailing from across the United States, explored topics that included, among others: Cardozo and Contracts; Cardozo’s Judicial Style; Cardozo and the Legal Profession; Cardozo, Law, and Society; Cardozo and Judicial Decision making; Cardozo’s Jurisprudence; Cardozo and Torts, and Justice Cardozo. The conference proceedings also included a keynote address by Professor Andrew Kaufman, Cardozo’s biographer, and a video message from Chief Judge Janet DiFiore of the New York State Court of Appeals.

Louis D. Brandeis: An Interdisciplinary Retrospective

March 31 - April 1, 2016

 

The Conference on Religious Legal Theory

April 10-12, 2013

In April of 2013, Touro Law Center hosted the fourth annual Conference on Religious Legal Theory. The Jewish Law Institute again took the lead in organizing the conference, which included lectures and presentations by leading legal scholars and religious thinkers from the United States and abroad. In the past, the conference had been held at Seton Hall, St. John’s, and Pepperdine.

May 2-4, 2012

In May of 2012, the Jewish Law Institute took a leading role in organizing the biennial Conference of Religiously Affiliated Law Schools, hosted at Touro Law Center. In the past, the conference had been held at law schools across the United States, including Notre Dame, Boston College, Baylor, Pepperdine, St. John’s, Regent, Marquette, and Brigham Young University. The Touro conference marked the first time the conference was hosted at a university with a Jewish affiliation. The speakers at the Touro conference included prominent judges and lawyers, university presidents, and leading legal scholars, representing a wide variety of institutions and religious traditions.

Photos