Covenantal Rights

A Study in Jewish Political Theory

David Novak

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English

Princeton University Press
01 February 2010

Social & political philosophy; Judaism: theology; Jewish studies; Political science & theory

Series: New Forum Books

Covenantal Rights is a groundbreaking work of political theory: a comprehensive, philosophically sophisticated attempt to bring insights from the Jewish political tradition into current political and legal debates about rights and to bring rights discourse more fully into Jewish thought. David Novak pursues these aims by presenting a theory of rights founded on the covenant between God and the Jewish people as that covenant is constituted by Scripture and the rabbinic tradition. In doing so, he presents a powerful challenge to prevailing liberal and conservative positions on rights and duties and opens a new chapter in contemporary Jewish political thinking. For Novak, ""covenantal rights"" are rooted in God's primary rights as creator of the universe and as the elector of a particular community whose members relate to this God as their sovereign. The subsequent rights of individuals and communities flow from God's covenantal promises, which function as irrevocable entitlements. This presents a sharp contrast to the liberal tradition, in which rights flow above all from individuals.

It also challenges the conservative idea that duties can take precedence over rights, since Novak argues that there are no covenantal duties that are not backed by correlative rights. Novak explains carefully and clearly how this theory of covenantal rights fits into Jewish tradition and applies to the relationships among God, the covenanted community, and individuals. This work is a profound and provocative contribution to contemporary religious and political theory.

By: David Novak
Imprint: Princeton University Press
Country of Publication: United States [Currently unable to ship to USA: see Shipping Info]
Volume: 58
Dimensions: Height: 229mm, Width: 152mm, Spine: 20mm
Weight: 397g
ISBN: 9780691144375
ISBN 10: 0691144370
Series: New Forum Books
Pages: 248
Publication Date: 01 February 2010
Audience: College/higher education , Professional and scholarly , Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly , Primary , A / AS level
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

David Novak holds the J. Richard and Dorothy Shiff Chair of Jewish Studies at the University of Toronto. His previous books include Natural Law in Judaism, The Election of Israel, and Jewish Social Ethics.

Reviews for Covenantal Rights: A Study in Jewish Political Theory

Co-Winner of the Award for Excellence in the Study of Religion in Constructive-Reflective Studies, American Academy of Religion

Joint winner for American Academy of Religion Award for Excellence in the Study of Religion 2000.
Joint winner of American Academy of Religion Award for Excellence in the Study of Religion 2000
Joint winner of American Academy of Religion's Award for Excellence in the Study of Religion in the Constructive-Reflective Studies category 2000 (United States)