Aviad Tabory, State of Halakha: Israel's History in Jewish Law Maggid, 2023, 284 pp.

Aviad Tabory's book, "State of Halakha: Israel's History in Jewish Law," provides a comprehensive survey of the halakhic (Jewish legal) issues that have arisen in Orthodox Judaism since Israel's independence in 1948. The book covers a wide range of topics, including the 1948 Declaration of Independence, wars and military operations, peace treaties, immigration, and political events. Tabory explores how these issues challenged Jewish legal scholars to develop appropriate halakhic responses without the benefit of earlier precedents. The book also discusses the integration of Jewish law into the Israeli legal system, particularly in the areas of rabbinical courts and family law. The author suggests that halakha (Jewish law) will continue to play a role in addressing ongoing issues in Israeli society, such as gender equality and the nature of democracy. [Extracted from the article]