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Steven H. Resnicoff
Born(1952-05-30)May 30, 1952
Washington, DC
Alma materPrinceton University
Yale Law School
Beth Medrash Gevoha
Occupation(s)Rabbi, Lawyer, Teacher
Professor, DePaul University College of Law
Co-director, DePaul Center for Jewish Law and Judaic Studies

Steven H. Resnicoff (May 30, 1952-), also known by his Hebrew name Shlomo Chaim Resnicoff,[1] is an American law professor, Orthodox rabbi, scholar, and prolific writer in areas including civil and Jewish law and legal, business, and medical ethics. He is a professor of law at DePaul University College of Law in Chicago, Illinois, where he also co-founded and now serves as co-director of the DePaul University College of Law Center for Jewish Law and Judaic Studies (JLJS). He is the author of numerous academic and scholarly works, including his most recent book, "Understanding Jewish Law," published in 2012 by LexisNexis.

Life and Works

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Resnicoff was born in Washington, D.C., and raised in Hyattsville, Maryland, where he attended Northwestern High School.[2] Descended from a long line of rabbis, including Mnachem Risikoff[3] and Zvi Yosef Resnick,[4] he earned his semikhah (rabbinic ordination) in 1983 from the Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, New Jersey, a school also known as the "Lakewood Yeshiva" and the "Aaron Kotler Institute for Advanced Studies," in addition to advanced rabbinic ordination (yoreh yoreh yadin yadin) from the internationally-renowned rabbi and scholar Moshe Feinstein.[5][6]

Prior to his rabbinic training, Resnicoff earned his BA from Princeton University in 1974, where he participated in the special program coordinated by the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, was elected to the Phi Beta Kappa Society and was named a Woodrow Wilson Scholar.[5] After graduation from Princeton, he earned his law degree (JD) from Yale Law School in New Haven, Connecticut in 1978.[5] During his time at Yale, he served as an assistant to the chair of Yale University's Advisory Committee on Investor Responsibility.[5][6]

He is a professor of law at DePaul University College of Law (in 2000-2001 he held the university's Wicklander Chair for Business and Professional Ethics), is co-founder and co-director of the school's Center for Jewish Law and Judaic Studies, and also teaches in the doctoral programs at the Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies.[5] He has taught courses at DePaul on subjects including bankruptcy, contracts, Jewish law, the legal profession, and negotiable instruments.[5] His courses at Spertus have included Jewish business ethics, Jewish legal ethics, Jewish and American law, and Jewish law in a time of terror.[7] Prior to moving to Chicago, he practiced commercial law in New Jersey and Maryland[5][7] as a partner in the Lakewood, New Jersey, firm of Gerszberg & Resnicoff and an associate in the Baltimore, Maryland, firm of Venable, Baetjer & Howard.[6]

Resnicoff is an internationally recognized scholar and lecturer, with special expertise in areas that include bankruptcy, commercial paper, contracts and professional responsibility, business ethics, legal ethics, and medical ethics,[7] and has authored or co-authored four books and more than 25 book chapters or articles.[5] He has a special scholarly interest in Jewish law as a legal system and the ways it compares and contrasts with other legal systems.[5] The faculty bio site for Spertus notes that Resnicoff is able to draw upon both his Talmudic training and law firm experience to analyze complex issues from "both secular and religious perspectives, often exploring how these disparate systems interact."[5]

In 2002, Resnicoff was involved in the creation of the National Institute for Judaic Law, an organization dedicated to the education of jurists and legal scholars regarding the legal and ethical teachings of Jewish law and its possible application to contemporary legal questions.[8] The organization was launched with an historic conference at the United States Supreme Court that included the first kosher dinner ever served there.[9] Along with Emory Law School Professor Michael Broyde, Resnicoff was one of the two law professors involved in the first project of the new institute: the creation of teaching modules for law and business schools, as well as seminars and conferences for lawyers.[8] According to Resnicoff, "It’s important for people to know the Jewish tradition offers a wealth of insight, psychological, emotional and ethical insight that can really be of tremendous value not only to Jews but to the world at large." [8]

Beginning in 2012, Resnicoff has also served as a faculty member for the special joint program between Spertus and Northwestern University that awards graduates a Certificate in Jewish leadership.[10] The program was developed for both emerging and current leaders of nonprofit organizations, and according to Spertus President and CEO Dr. Hal M. Lewis, will "provide participants with contemporary and ancient teachings that will enhance their skill sets and provide unparalleled opportunity to grow professionally while transforming their organizations."[10]

Resnicoff served as chair of the Jewish Law Association, an international organization promoting Jewish law scholarship, continuing as editor of its e-newsletter and a member of its Executive Committee."[5] He has also served as chair and member of the Executive Committee of the Section on Jewish Law of the Association of American Law Schools, is co-author of a proposed course of study in business ethics designed for use in Jewish high schools, and has lectured extensively on Jewish law, including programs at Agudath Israel of America, the Rabbinical Council of America and the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Israel.[5] He is also an independent contractor consultant for "The Center for Halacha and American Law," part of the Miami-based Aleph Institute.[11]

DePaul University Center for Jewish Law and Judaic Studies (JLJS)

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In 2008,[12] along with DePaul University College of Law Professor Roberta Kwall, Resnicoff co-founded and began to co-direct the Center[13] as an institution "dedicated to promoting multi-disciplinary education in Jewish law, philosophy, theology, history, and culture among members of the bar, the academy, the greater Chicagoland Jewish community, and all others who are sincerely interested in what Judaism has to say about issues of critical contemporary significance."[14] The Center is "the only Law School Center in the Midwest dedicated to promoting Jewish scholarship."[15]

The inaugural JLJS event was held September 18, 2008 with a lecture on "The American Declaration of Independence as a Theological Imperative."[12]

Beginning in 2010 with a conference focusing on "Matrilineal vs. Patrilineal Descent," the Center has sponsored an annual "Interdenominational Jewish Community Event."[16] Resnicoff is involved either as an organizer or participant in almost every Center event, recently serving as a panelist for the May 2012 Interactive Jewish Law Symposium on "A Comparative Analysis of Law through the Examination of Biblical, Talmudic and Scholarly Texts."[16]

Published works

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Resnicoff is a prolific writer, authoring a number of books, book chapters, articles, and book reviews.[17]

Books

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Resnicoff's most recent book, published by LexisNexis in 2012, is "Understanding Jewish Law" (ISBN: 9781422490204).[18] It was written to serve as a principal text or core reading for a course in Jewish law at a university, law school or adult education course, exploring "Jewish law's basic principles, its hierarchies of literary, institutional, and human authorities, its sources, the processes through which Jewish law unfolds and the roles played by individual autonomy."[19] In addition, the work explores some of the interrelationships between Jewish law and secular law.[19]

His previously published books include:[20]

  • Negotiable Instruments and Other Payment Systems (Lexis Nexis Matthew Bender, 2006), co-authored with Wayne K. Lewis
  • Negotiable Instruments and Other Payment Systems: Problems and Materials (LexisNexis, 2004), co-authored with Wayne K. Lewis
  • The New Law of Negotiable Instruments (Michie, 1996) with 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2004 Supplements, co-authored with Wayne K. Lewis
  • Contributing Co-Editor, Bankruptcy (Ginsberg and Martin, eds., 4th ed. Aspen Law and Business, 1995 with 1996 and 1997 updates).
  • Lead Author, Bankruptcy Issues for State Trial Court Judges (American Bankruptcy Institute, 1995).
  • Illinois Law of Negotiable Instruments (Ill. Inst. Cont. Leg. Educ., 1994), co-authored with Wayne K. Lewis
  • Contributing Co-Editor, Bankruptcy (3d ed. Prentice-Hall, 1992).
  • Contributing Co-Author, Bankruptcy (2d ed. Prentice-Hall, 1989).

Book chapters

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  • Jewish and American Inheritance Law: Commonalities, Clashes, and Estate Planning Consequences (forthcoming in Jewish Law Association Studies), coauthored with Donna Litman
  • Da'at Torah and Censorship, in Jewish Law Association Studies XX (Liverpool, Deborah Charles Publications, 2009).
  • May Plaintiffs Enjoy a Double Recovery? The "Collateral Source Rule " and Jewish Law, in Jewish Law Association Studies XVIII (Global Publications, 2008).
  • Fraudulent Transfer Law in Illinois, in Secured Transactions (Robert M. Fishman, et al. eds., Ill. Inst. For Continuing Legal Educ. 2007).
  • Keeping One's Word in Commercial & Non-Commercial Contexts, in Jewish Law Association Studies XVI (Global Publications, 2007).
  • Lying and Lawyering: An Honest Perspective, in Contemporary Issues in Business Ethics 183-204 (Keith W. Kraesmann and Patricia H. Werhane, eds., University Press, 2006).
  • Contemporary Halakhic Problems, in Modern Judaism: An Oxford Guide (N. De Lange & M. Freud-Kandel, eds., Oxford University Press, 2005).
  • Ends and Means in Jewish Law: Lying to Achieve Financial Justice, Jewish Law Annual XV (Nessa Olshansky-Ashtar, ed., Taylor & Francis, 2004).
  • Euthanasia and Physician Assisted Dying, in Jewish Public Policy and Social Issues (Marshall J. Breger, ed., Praeger Publishers, 2003).
  • Jewish Fraudulent Transfer Law, in Jewish Law Association Studies XIII 191-227 (Hillel Gamoran, ed., Global Publications, 2002).
  • Professional Autonomy: A Theological Critique in Law and Religion: Current Legal Issues Volume 4 (Richard O'Dair and Andrew Lewis, eds., Oxford University Press, 2001).
  • Illinois Fraudulent Transfer Law, in Secured Transactions (R.M. Fishman et al., eds., Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 2001).
  • Helping a Client Violate Jewish Law: A Jewish Lawyer’s Dilemma, in Jewish Law Association Studies X (H.G. Sprecher, ed., Global Publications, 2000).
  • The Secular Enforceability of a Beis Din Judgment, in The Ethical Imperative (Nisson Wolpin, ed., Artscroll Publications, 2000) (re-publication).
  • A Proposal for a High School Course in Torah Ethics, in The Ethical Imperative (Nisson Wolpin, ed., Artscroll Publications, 2000) (re-publication) (with I. Kasdan).
  • The Corporate Veil: A Still Shrouded Mystery, in Jewish Business Ethics: The Firm and Its Stakeholders (A. Levine ed., Yeshiva University Press, 1999) (with M. Broyde).
  • Fraudulent Transfers, in Advanced Commercial Finance and Creditors’ Rights in Illinois (Ill. Inst. for Continuing Legal Educ., 1993 with 1996 update).
  • Unsecured Claims, in Chapter 11 Theory and Practice: A Guide to Reorganization (James F. Queenan, Jr. and Philip J. Hendel, eds., LRP Publications, 1994 with 1995 update).

Articles

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  • Jewish Law and the Tragedy of Sexual Abuse of Children - The Dilemma Within the Orthodox Jewish Community, 13 Rutgers J. L. & Rel. ___ (2012)
  • Jewish and American Bankruptcy Law: Their Similarities, Differences and Interactions, 19 Am. Bankr. Inst. L. Rev. 551 (2012)
  • Shooting Down Suicide Airplanes – What Does Law Got to Do With It?, 10 Issues Aviation L. & Pol'y. 281 (2011)
  • Illinois’ New Legal Ethics Rules: A Disappointing Travail, 9 DePaul Bus. & Com. L.J. 29 (2010)
  • Autonomy in Jewish Law-in Theory and in Practice 24 J. L. & Religion 507 (2009).
  • Supplying Human Body Parts: A Jewish Law Perspective, 55 DePaul L. Rev. 851 (2006).
  • Does Corporate Decision Making Allow Room for Religious Values?, 11 Fordham J. Corp. & Fin. L. 547 (2006).
  • Jewish Law and Socially Responsible Corporate Conduct, 11 Fordham J. of Corp. & Fin. L. 681 (2006).
  • Jewish Law: Duties of the Intellect, 1 U. St. Thomas L. Rev. 386 (2003).
  • Lying and Lawyering: Contrasting American and Jewish Law, 77 Notre Dame L. Rev. 937 (2002).
  • Lying and Lawyering: An Honest Perspective, 7 DePaul Academic Affairs Quarterly 6 (2002).
  • The Attorney-Client Relationship: A Jewish Law Perspective, 14 Notre Dame J.L. Ethics & Pub. Pol’y 349 (2000).
  • Jewish Law Perspectives on Suicide and Physician-Assisted Dying, 13 J.L. & Religion 289 (1999).
  • The Jewish Perspective on the Theft of Artworks Stolen During World War II, 10 DePaul-LCA J. Art & Ent. L. & Pol’y 67 (1999).
  • Physician-Assisted Dying: Halachic Perspective, XXXVII J. Halacha & Contemp. Soc'y. 47 (1999).
  • A Jewish Look at Lawyering Ethics - A Preliminary Essay, 15 Touro L.Rev. 73 (1998).
  • Jewish Law and Modern Business Structures: The Corporate Paradigm, 43 Wayne L.Rev. 1685 (1997), co-authored with Michael Broyde
  • Physician Assisted Suicide under Jewish Law, 1 DePaul J. Health Care L. 589 (1997).
  • Interaction Between Bankruptcy Law and State Law: What Illinois Judges Need to Know, 24 Loy. U. Chi. L.J. 437 (1993).
  • Is It Morally Wrong to Depend on the Honesty of Your Partner or Spouse? Bankruptcy Dischargeability of Vicarious Debt, 42 Case W. Res. L. Rev. 147 (1992) (reprinted in 67th Annual Meeting of the Nat. Conference of Bankruptcy Judges, Orlando, Florida, 10/17-10/20 (1993)).
  • Bankruptcy Law - A Viable Halachic Option?, XXIV J. Halacha and Contemp. Soc'y 5 (1992).
  • The End of a Judicial Odyssey? A Legislative Answer to Equity in Utility Connection Fees, 11 Seton Hall Legis. J. 295 (1988)(reprinted in Public Utility Law Anthology, Vol. XII (1990)).
  • Barring Bankruptcy Banditry: Revision of Section 523(a)(2)(C), 7 Bankr. Dev. J. 427 (1990).
  • Dischargeability in Bankruptcy of Debts Incurred by "Purported Purchasers", 64 St. John's L. Rev. 253 (1990).
  • A Commercial Conundrum: Does Prudence Permit the Jewish "Permissible Venture"?, 20 Seton Hall L. Rev. 77 (1989).
  • Durable Power of Attorney, N.J. Law., Aug. 1985, at 35.
  • Contributor, Taxation of Computer Software (Part II), 26 Jurimetrics J. 77 (1985).

Book reviews

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  • Shofar: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Jewish Studies, Vol 27, number 4 (Summer 2009), reviewing For the Love of God and People: A Philosophy of Jewish Law by Elliot N. Dorff (JPS, 2007)
  • Journal of Law and Religion, Vol 17, p279 (2002), reviewing The Orthodox Forum: Rabbinic Authority and Personal Autonomy by M. Sokol ed. (Jason Aronson, Inc. 1992).
  • Journal of Law and Religion, Volume 17, p193 (2002), reviewing Jewish Law and the New Reproductive Technologies by E. Feldman & J. Wolowelsky eds. (KTAV Publishing House, Inc. 1997).
  • Bimonthly Review of Law Books (1989) reviewing Joseph J. Norton and W. Mike Baggett, Lender Liability Law and Litigation (Matthew Bender, 1989).

Miscellaneous

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  • Panel, "Economics of Biotechnology: The Human Gene Patenting Debate." Annual Symposium of the Northwestern Journal of Technology and Intellectual Property. 4 March 2011
  • Lead Author, Bankruptcy Issues for State Trial Court Judges, American Bankruptcy Institute (1995) (lead author), excerpted in When Worlds Collide: Bankruptcy and its Impact on Domestic Relations and Family Law (ABI, 1997).
  • Conference Materials: The Unlimited Personal Liability of Partners: Bankruptcy Implications for Professional Partners, 67th Ann. Meeting of the Nat. Conference of Bankrupcy Judges, Orlando, Florida, 10/17-10/20 (1993).
  • Conference Materials: Bankruptcy Law and State Courts, Committee on Economic Distress, Ill. Judicial Conference, Fall, 1992.
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References

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  1. ^ JLAW.com, retrieved August 19, 2012.
  2. ^ Classreport.org, Northwestern High School Class of 1970, retrieved August 12, 2012
  3. ^ Resnicoff, Steven, Book review of "Between Civil and Religious Law: The Plight of the Agunah in American Society, Irving Breitowitz, Greenwood Press, 1993," published in Jewish Action, Winter 1994, Vol. 55, No. 2. Resnicoff's review notes that a reference in the book refers to his grandfather, Mnachem Risikoff.
  4. ^ Encyclopedia Judaica, Decennial Book(1973-82), Keter Publishing House, 1982, 526: article on Resnicoff's grandfather Mnachem Risikoff identifies him as son of Zvi Yosef Resnick, making Resnick Resnicoff's great-grandfather.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l DePaul University Law School faculty bio page
  6. ^ a b c "About the Authors" section, 1997 supplement, "The New Law of Negotiable Instruments," Michie Law Publishers, Charlottesville, Virgina.
  7. ^ a b c Spertus faculty bio page
  8. ^ a b c judaiclaw.org press release, 2002
  9. ^ Zacharia, Janine, "Jewish law institute launched in DC," November 9, 2002
  10. ^ a b "Spertus and Northwestern University Partner to Launch Certificate in Jewish Leadership," Politics and Government Week, December 22, 2011
  11. ^ Jlaw.com, retrieved August 15, 2012
  12. ^ a b DePaul alumni news, July 2008, retrieved August 14, 2012
  13. ^ Depaul press release, retrieved August 14, 2012
  14. ^ Center website, retrieved August 12, 2012
  15. ^ Dykeman, Stephanie, "Rabbi Funnye Speaks to DePaul's Center for Judaic Law & Jewish Studies," JUF News, posted June 29, 2012
  16. ^ a b Depaul website, retrieved August 12, 2012
  17. ^ DePaul website for faculty publications, retrieved August 12, 2012
  18. ^ Lexisnexis.com,retrieved August 12, 2012
  19. ^ a b linkedin.com, retrieved August 12, 2012
  20. ^ bookfinder.com, retrieved August 12, 2012


Category:1948 births Category:Living people Category:DePaul University faculty Category:American Orthodox rabbis Category:American legal scholars Category:Jewish scholars Category:Family law Category:Jewish courts and civil law Category:Jewish marital law Category: Princeton University alumni Category: 20th-century rabbis Category: 21st-century rabbis Category: Yale Law School alumni Category: People from Hyattsville, Maryland Category: Kohanim

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