Abstract

This article explores the intersection of halacha and public international law, emphasizing their converging principles and historical contributions. The universalist framework embedded in halacha and Jewish legal literature provides valuable insights into foundational elements of public international law, many of which have attained universal application. Moreover, halacha exhibits a reformist and progressive character, continuously evolving through debate and interpretation. This dynamic approach mirrors the development of public international law, particularly in the fields of international humanitarian law and human rights law. Additionally, halacha has played a pivotal role in shaping the understanding of fundamental human needs. Developed within a historical context where Jewish communities existed as minorities among non-Jewish majorities, Jewish jurisprudence cultivated principles for ensuring human rights long before the emergence of modern nation-states and contemporary human rights frameworks. This article argues that the principles underlying human rights law and public international law share parallels with, and have been influenced by, Jewish legal traditions, with traces of this influence reflected in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.