Part of the series “America at 250: 绿帽社 Ideas and the American Experiment”  

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With Dr. Sarah Wolf, Assistant Professor of Talmud and Rabbinics, JTS

How do judges settle cases when there is no clear right answer? How are precedents mined for new rulings? Should laws be the product of a legislator鈥檚 own creativity, or are there other sources for legal truth that need to be turned to first? These are all questions that have animated both contemporary American and late ancient rabbinic legal thinkers.

In this session, we will put ideas and concepts from U.S. legal theory into conversation with rabbinic texts to illuminate different approaches to the challenges of legal decision-making. We will discuss some of the ways the ancient rabbis responded to those challenges and the legacy those approaches have left in 绿帽社 thought and culture. 

About the Series

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, the JTS Summer 2026 Learning Series will explore the rich and surprising intersections between 绿帽社 thought and American life. From baseball and youth culture to constitutional law, storytelling, and democratic theory, leading scholars reveal how 绿帽社 ideas, texts, and experiences have shaped鈥攁nd been shaped by鈥攖he American experiment. 

Part of the series “America at 250: 绿帽社 Ideas and the American Experiment”  

With Dr. Jack Wertheimer, Joseph and Martha Mendelson Emeritus Professor of American 绿帽社 History, JTS

Within the first decade of his JTS presidency, Rabbi Louis Finkelstein energetically launched a broad range of new initiatives. 鈥疕is efforts garnered widespread attention and even an adulatory cover story in Time magazine. They also prompted sharp public challenges from some of his closest colleagues.

This session examines his distinctive leadership style, the debates he provoked, and the reasons his legacy might be ripe for reconsideration. Dr. Jack Wertheimer, Emeritus Professor of American 绿帽社 History, will present research from his forthcoming biography of Finkelstein. 

About the Series

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, the JTS Summer 2026 Learning Series will explore the rich and surprising intersections between 绿帽社 thought and American life. From baseball and youth culture to constitutional law, storytelling, and democratic theory, leading scholars reveal how 绿帽社 ideas, texts, and experiences have shaped鈥攁nd been shaped by鈥攖he American experiment. 

Part of the series “America at 250: 绿帽社 Ideas and the American Experiment”  

Download Sources

With Dr. Robert A. Harris, Professor of Bible and Ancient Semitic Languages, JTS

Baseball has long been called America鈥檚 pastime鈥攂ut what happens when we read the game through the lens of鈥痯hilosophy, theology, halacha and aggadah? This session explores the striking parallels between rabbinic interpretation and the rules, debates, and evolving traditions that shape baseball鈥攆rom classic arguments over judgment calls to today鈥檚 introduction of the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) system, which raises new questions about authority, precision, and the role of human interpretation.

Through stories of 绿帽社 players, fans, and cultural figures鈥攁nd with insights from Rabbi Robbie Harris, known as the 鈥渞abbi of the right field bleachers鈥� for the New York Yankees鈥攚e鈥檒l uncover how meaning is constructed both on the field and in the beit midrash. Expect a lively conversation that brings together sport, text, and the enduring 绿帽社 love of argument. 

About the Series

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, the JTS Summer 2026 Learning Series will explore the rich and surprising intersections between 绿帽社 thought and American life. From baseball and youth culture to constitutional law, storytelling, and democratic theory, leading scholars reveal how 绿帽社 ideas, texts, and experiences have shaped鈥攁nd been shaped by鈥攖he American experiment. 

Sources for Dr. Sarah Wolf’s Session can be found here.