The Enshrinement of Torah Study in Israel’s Basic Laws: A New Constitutional Chapter with Nitsan Plitman Moderated by Noah Feldman

Israel recently added a new chapter to its evolving constitutional framework. Alongside human dignity and liberty, which form the legal bedrock of the nation’s human rights regime, this July the Knesset added a single sentence to the country’s Basic Laws: “Torah study is a basic value in the heritage of the Jewish people and in the State of Israel.” While critics rightly warn of an alarming leap toward a theocratic state driven by a religious minority wielding disproportionate political leverage, the true significance of this law extends far beyond coalitional cynicism. It reflects a profound, structural transformation of the Israeli legal and social fabric itself. Come hear Nitsan Plitman explain the implications of this recent development.