The Israeli Army Code of Ethics lists Moshe Halbertal as a co-author, marking one of many intersections between his philosophical research and public policy. Born in 1958 in Montevideo, Uruguay, he made aliyah to Israel, where he established a career as a writer, university teacher, and scholar specializing in Judaism, religious studies, and philosophy.
Academic Foundation
Halbertal completed his Bachelor of Arts in Jewish Thought and Philosophy at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 1984, graduating cum laude. He continued at the same institution to earn his doctorate in 1989. His dissertation focused on the role of values as interpretative criteria within Jewish law, supervised by Menachem Elon and Avishai Margalit. Following his doctoral studies, he served as a fellow at the Harvard Society of Fellows from 1988 until 1992.
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He holds the position of John and Golda Cohen Professor of Jewish Thought and Philosophy at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Since 2002, he has served as the Gruss Professor of Law at the New York University School of Law. Beyond these permanent roles, he has acted as a visiting professor at the law schools of Yale, Harvard, and the University of Pennsylvania. He is also a faculty member at the Mandel School for Educational Leadership in Jerusalem and sits on the editorial board of the Jewish Review of Books.
Philosophy and Public Discourse
His research covers a broad spectrum, including the work of Maimonides and the mechanics of tradition. He argues that modern orthodoxy diverges from ultra-orthodox perspectives by rejecting the idea that tradition possesses a monopoly on truth. Regarding the state of Israel, he maintains that the government should fund religious infrastructure, such as synagogues and mikvahs, without imposing doctrinal tests. He advocates for equal access to state resources for all congregational types, including Reform and Orthodox movements.
Scholarly Output
Halbertal has produced extensive literature on theology and political philosophy. Notable works include Idolatry, co-authored with Avishai Margalit, and People of the Book: Canon, Meaning and Authority. His scholarship on Maimonides earned him the National Jewish Book Award in the scholarship category in 2013 for the volume Maimonides: Life and Thought. Other significant publications explore the political power structures in the biblical Book of Samuel and the emergence of doubt within rabbinic literature.
Fast facts
- Born: 1958, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Citizenship: Israel and Uruguay
- Academic degree: Doctorate from Hebrew University of Jerusalem
- Notable role: Co-author, Israeli Army Code of Ethics
- Award: Michael Bruno Memorial Award (1999)
- Membership: Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities
- Professional affiliation: New York University
- Professional affiliation: Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Questions readers ask
What is Moshe Halbertal's primary area of study?
He is a scholar of Jewish thought, philosophy, and religious studies, with a specific focus on the works of Maimonides.
Where does Moshe Halbertal teach?
He is a professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a professor at the NYU School of Law.
Achievements
- Held posts at New York University
- Fields: philosophy, religious studies and Judaism
