Image for Jews and American Law

The principles of religious liberty and equality are integral to America’s democracy. The U.S. Constitution’s protection of religious freedom and modern anti-discrimination laws have enabled Jews to flourish in the United States. When American Jews have suffered religious discrimination, they have turned to the courts and legislatures for protection. Recently, however, a new form of religious discrimination has emerged. Jews are once again being excluded. To be accepted, Jews are increasingly being told that they must first shed their sense of Jewish peoplehood and disavow the Jews’ connection to the Land of Israel. In this class, we will explore how US law has protected the Jewish community in the past and how it can be used in the future to protect against this latest form of discrimination.