Dr. Isaac Lifshitz
Ph.D., Tel Aviv University
M.A., Touro College
B.A., Open University
Isaac Lifshitz is an expert on Jewish philosophy and history, with an emphasis on the philosophy of Ashkenaz in the high Middle Ages. He received his rabbinical ordination from Rabbis Yitzhak Kulitz and David Nesher. He earned his Ph.D. in Jewish Thought from Tel Aviv University, and holds an M.A. in Jewish history from Touro College. Author of numerous books, most recently Judaism, Law & The Free Market (Acton, 2012), Dr. Lifshitz has written both scholarly and popular articles on subjects related to Judaism and economics.
Selected Publications
"The Political Theology of Maharam of Rothenberg," Hebraic Political Studies 1 (4) (Summer 2006), pp. 383-412.
R. Meir of Rothenberg and the Foundations of Jewish Political Thought (New York: Cambridge University Press, forthcoming).
Books
Judaism, Law & The Free Market: An Analysis (Acton Institute, 2012).
Articles
Joseph Isaac Lifshitz, Andreas Buchs, and David Gillis, "Usage of the Insulin Pump for Diabetics on Sabbath," ASSIA – A Journal of Jewish Ethics and Halacha(forthcoming). [Hebrew]
"The Place of Developmental Self-Ordering in Judaism," Journal of Markets and Morality 13 (Spring 2010), pp. 189-204.
"Les sources transcendantes de la Halakha," Pardès 47-48 (2010), pp. 15-32.
"Ovanta D'Liba and Infinity: On the Tension between the Subjective and Objective Perception of God," Da'at 62 (2008), pp. 27-50. [Hebrew]
"Welfare, Property, and Charity in Jewish Thought," Society 44 (2) (January-February 2007), pp. 71-78.
Book Chapters
"Essentialist Influences on the Halakha," Ideologies and World Views in the Halachic Discourse, Avinoam Roznaek and Dafna Schreiber, eds. (Jeruaslem: Magnes, forthcoming). [Hebrew]
"Maharam of Rothenberg and the Unrealized Redemption," Prisoners and Imprisonment, Merav Mack, ed. (Jerusalem: Van Leer Jerusalem Institute, forthcoming). [Hebrew]
"War and Aesthetics in Jewish Law," War and Peace in Jewish Tradition: From the Ancient World to Present, Yigal Levin and Amnon Shapira, eds. (London and New York: Routledge, 2012), pp. 103-115.
"The Community as a United Body: The Definition of the Community according to Maharam of Rothenburg," The Jewish Political Tradition throughout the Ages: In Memory of Daniel J. Elazar, Moshe Hellinger, ed. (Ramat Gan: Bar-Ilan University Press, 2010). [Hebrew]
"Welfare, Property and the Divine Image in Jewish Law and Thought," Markets, Morals and Religion, Jonathan B. Imber, ed. (New Brunswick: Transaction Publishers, 2008), pp. 117-129.