To many Americans, the right to privacy is one of the most precious rights they hold as citizens. But as times change, the boundaries for what is considered a violation of that privacy are constantly changing as well. Years ago it would have been seen as a violation of privacy rights to be frisked and have your belongings rummaged through at an airport, but now many see safety as a viable reason to adjust their privacy boundaries.
Western Law and Talmudic Law hold many differences when dealing with the issue of privacy but fundamentally, they are quite similar. Jewish Law gives the rights of the information’s dissemination to the person with the information. The individual has the right to disclose it or not, but should do so using sound judgment and good character. The Talmud focuses on governing the individual and american law is concerned with the individual’s rights and the consequences of when those rights are violated. Both laws are rooted in creating a just and moral society, however, Jewish law requires that people take more responsibility for themselves and rise to their full potential.
If you’re interested in the issue of privacy and the Talmud, there you can browse the audio CLE courses at IATLaw.org or the continuing legal education seminars. In the audio section you’ll find “The Right to Privacy and Individual Liberties” which goes into further detail about the contrast between Talmudic and American interpretations of privacy rights.
