Rules of Engagement

 US Law, the Talmud and the Law of War

• When is war ethically permissible? What is a just cause for war?
  
• Does an imminent attack justify a preemptive strike?
• Are there ethical limits on actions that might kill civilians or destroy non-military property?
• Why are torture and chemical weapons banned?

Presenters

Professor Michael A. Newton
Editor of the United States Department of Defense "Law of War Manual: Commentary and Critique"
An authority on the law of armed conflict, Professor Newton served as the senior adviser to the Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues in the U.S. State Department from January 1999 to August 2002, during which he implemented a wide range of policy positions, including U.S. support to accountability mechanisms worldwide. He negotiated the “Elements of Crimes” for the International Criminal Court, and was the senior member of the team teaching international law to the first group of Iraqis who began to think about accountability mechanisms and a constitutional structure in November 2000. Having served in the US Army for more than 21 years, Professor Newton is currently a professor at Vanderbilt University where he developed and teaches the innovative International Law Practice Lab, which provides expert assistance to judges, lawyers, legislatures, governments and policy makers around the world.

Rabbi Mordechai Becher
Internationally Acclaimed Jewish Ethics Scholar
Rabbi Becher is a senior lecturer of the Gateways Organization and Instructor at Yeshiva University. He received his ordination from the Chief Rabbinate of Israel and the Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem and holds an MA in Medieval Jewish History from the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Yeshiva University, where he is currently pursuing doctoral studies. He taught at various institutions in Jerusalem, served in the IDF, has answered thousands of questions on AsktheRabbi.org and presents a Talmud class on the Jewish Broadcasting Service. Author of the highly acclaimed book Gateway to Judaism, Rabbi Becher is a sought after lecturer in the US, Canada, England, Israel, South Africa, Australia and Russia, and has conducted Jewish educational tours in Africa, Australia, China, Europe and Israel.