In The Jewish Social Contract, author David Novak tests the view of philosopher John Rawls and others that citizens of a liberal democratic state must, in effect, check their religion at the door when discussing politics in a public forum. Instead, Novak argues that in such a state, members of faith-based communities ought to be able to adhere to their religious convictions as they participate in political life. Novak shows how social contracts emerged, rooted in biblical notions of covenant, and how they developed in the rabbinic, medieval, and modern periods. He offers suggestions as to how Jews today can best negotiate the modern social contract while calling upon non-Jewish allies to aid them in the process. The Jewish Social Contract will prove an enlightening and innovative contribution to the ongoing debate about the role of religion in liberal democracies.
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