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continued from page 12

among others. The study of
strolled the manicured path
Jewish law and its connection
by the Moskva River (similar
See videos of the
to secular law continues at
to the Detroit RiverWalk) that
law schools around the world,
includes a skate park, and
conference sessions
primarily in places with
enjoyed the many bars and
at bit.ly/2OuKdr0.
strong Jewish communities
restaurants. While traditional
Schwartz will
and where educational insti-
Russian food was readily
lecture on his trip
tutions see the benefit of tap-
available, the McDonald’s,
1 p.m. Dec. 5 at
ping into historical religious
Starbucks, Hard Rock Cafe
WSU Law School.
legal sources. For example,
and Hollywood-themed diner
the Center for the Study of
were always full.
Law and Religion, Emory
While guidebooks warned
University School of Law in Atlanta, one of that Russians were unfriendly and inten-
the JLA conference sponsors, offers class-
tionally stoic in public, I did not encounter
es taught by experts in Jewish, Christian
any unpleasantness. Most people spoke
and Islamic law.
English and were happy to help. I never
Outside the ivory tower of academia,
saw any machine gun-toting soldiers
Jewish law and Mishpat Ivri are being
and never felt as though government
utilized by judges to decide cases in the
informants were hiding in the shadows.
real world to varying degrees. In Israel,
Importantly, I was treated respectfully
where Mishpat Ivri played a key role in
by everyone during the trip. Importantly,
establishing the country’s legal system,
when traveling as an easily identifiable
nearly 10 percent of decisions from the
Jewish group, nobody experienced a hint
Israeli Supreme Court reference Jewish
of discrimination.
law scholarship.
The rich body of Jewish law gener-
JLA CONFERENCE
ated over our history is an incredible,
On July 23, conference participants met
yet undervalued treasure trove of Jewish
at Moscow State University’s (MSU) Law
wisdom, which deserves continued atten- School. MSU is considered the most pres-
tion and study. That is the essence of
tigious university in Russia, and its cam-
Mishpat Ivri. For these reasons, the JLA
pus includes the largest educational build-
made the decision to honor and highlight
ing in the world (one of the seven sisters),
the Mishpat Ivri Society on its 100th anni- in addition to a modern law school. Along
versary.
with the JLA, MSU and Emory University’s
Law School, other conference sponsors
IMPRESSIONS OF MOSCOW
included the Buchmann Faculty of Law at
Tel Aviv University, the Euro-Asian Jewish
After several months of working through
Congress and the Embassy of the State of
the visa process and making travel
Israel in Moscow.
arrangements, I took the long flight to
We were greeted by a banner display-
Moscow, arriving in the afternoon on
ing the formal title of the conference:
Sunday, July 22. The conference was
“Mishpat Ivri: Past, Present and Future.
to begin the next afternoon, so I had
100 Year Anniversary of the Establishment
plenty of time to explore the city. While
of the Mishpat Ivri Society in Moscow.”
I imagined run-down apartment blocks,
Attendees came from Austria, Brazil,
unhappy and downtrodden people and
Israel, Russia, South Africa, and a hand-
an imposing military presence, the reality
ful from the U.S. I was the only Midwest
was much different.
participant. Most were lawyers and legal
Moscow, an enormous city of more
scholars, but the group also included his-
than 13 million residents, turned out to
torians, authors, rabbis and government
be beautiful, modern, clean and safe. The
officials, such as Israeli Supreme Court
streets were alive with activity, filled with
Justice Daphne Barak-Erez and Israel’s
tourists who remained after the recent
Ambassador to Russia Gary Koren. Media
World Cup soccer tournament.
was also present to cover the conference,
While it was impossible to miss the
the first of its kind in Russia.
seven sisters — imposing Stalinist-style
Religious observance varied but tended
skyscrapers built in the late ’40s and early
to skew more Modern Orthodox than
’50s that ring the city — there were few
Reform. At 35, I was on the younger end,
other outward signs of the country’s com-
causing one American law professor to
munist past. Instead, capitalism was in
explain that the study of Mishpat Ivri is
full swing. Moscow has many high-end
stores catering to wealthy and fashionable usually undertaken by professors after
they obtain tenure and are free to engage
Muscovites, and countless small busi-
in passion projects. Presenters included a
nesses selling Matryoshka dolls, replica
mix of men and women, many of whom
Fabergé eggs and more.
brought family members who joined us
Russian millennials were everywhere,
at various activities and meals. Despite
looking identical to young people in any
these differences, this diverse group of
U.S. city. Despite reported government-
Jews enjoyed eating kosher Russian food,
sponsored discrimination, I was proud to
praying, and discussing religion and law
see LGBTQ couples openly showing their
affection, including in Russia’s famous Red together.
The important BDS-rejecting mes-
Square. Locals filled the city’s many parks,

details

Moscow’s Choral Synagogue, opened in 1906

Jonathan H. Schwartz at Moscow’s Jewish Museum and Tolerance Center,
pictured with the Jewish Law Association 20th International Conference banner

continued on page 16

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September 27 • 2018

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