Emory Prof Edits Book on Jewish Perspective of 9/11

The upcoming ten-year anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attack on the United States gives Americans time to reflect on how the tragic events changed the country and the lives of so many people.

Michael Broyde, a rabbi and professor of law and senior fellow at the Center for the Study of Law and Religion, recently edited “Contending with Catastrophe: Jewish Perspectives on September 11th,” a collection of essays that discusses issues and questions raised after the Sept. 11 tragedy.

The essays range in topic from “Sacrificing the Few to Save the Many” to family law cases where Jewish wives had little or no proof their husbands had passed away because so many bodies were unable to be recovered.

“The Jewish tradition errs on the side of incredible conservatism, and doesn’t want to declare people dead until they’re absolutely sure,” Broyde said. “It’s a hard problem because it’s very rare that people die without physical remains.”

The book includes three prayers, a memorial prayer for the victims of Sept. 11, a prayer for the first responders and emergency workers and a prayer for the United States Armed Forces.

Broyde will host a free public lecture, “The Bioethical Future,” on Tues., Sept. 13 at 7:30 p.m. at Emory University School of Law, 1301 Clifton Rd.