When the Law Falls Short: Empathy and the Work of Civic Repair

June 11, 2026

Last Thursday, JTS hosted a full-day convening exploring the limits of law and the ethical commitments required to sustain justice in democratic societies.

We were honored to welcome leading scholars and practitioners who examined how moral responsibility, empathy, and civic norms can complement legal frameworks when the law alone is insufficient to address complex social challenges.

Rabbi Dr. Jane Kanarek, Professor of Rabbinics and Dean of Faculty, Hebrew College, and Imam Dr. Khalil Abdur-Rashid, Muslim Chaplain and Lecturer, Muslim Studies, Harvard University, began the event with a discussion about Jewish and Muslim views on the relationship between religious law, secular law, human reason, and empathy.

The second session explored the idea that law can help solve human problems, but justice depends on the values and actions of the people who live under it. Courts and constitutions matter, yet lasting change often comes from education, dialogue, civic engagement, and sometimes challenging unjust laws. The panel featured Lincoln Caplan, Journalist and Senior Research Scholar in Law at Yale University, Hon. Judith Bartnoff, Senior Judge at the Superior Court of the District of D.C., Talia Milgrom-Elcott, Founder and Executive Director of Beyond100K, and Dimitry Anselme, Smith Family Senior Vice President and Chief Officer of Facing History & Ourselves, and Assistant Attorney General in Charge of Special Litigation in the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office David Leit moderated the discussion.

Participants also took part in interactive workshops, exploring “Ethics in Action: Applying Legal Principles to Civic Challenges,” covering a wide range of additional topics.

The day concluded with the Henry N. and Selma S. Rapaport Memorial Lecture. Chancellor Shuly Rubin Schwartz moderated a conversation on law, repair, and civic life between Martha Minow, 300th Anniversary University Professor, Harvard Law School, and Susan Sturm, George M. Jaffin Professor of Law and Social Responsibility, Columbia Law School.

If you weren’t able to join us in-person, you can now watch these important conversations.

Religious Law and Ethical Foundations

  • Moderator: Rabbi Gordon Tucker, Vice Chancellor for Religious Life and Engagement, JTS
  • Rabbi Dr. Jane Kanarek, Professor of Rabbinics and Dean of Faculty, Hebrew Collegek
  • Imam Dr. Khalil Abdur-Rashid, Muslim Chaplain and Lecturer, Muslim Studies, Harvard University

When the Law Meets Ethics: Understanding Limits and Responsibilities

  • Moderator: David Leit, Assistant Attorney General in Charge of Special Litigation, New Jersey Attorney General’s Office •
  • Lincoln Caplan, Journalist and Senior Research Scholar in Law, Yale University •
  • Hon. Judith Bartnoff, Senior Judge, Superior Court of the District of D.C. •
  • Talia Milgrom-Elcott, Founder and Executive Director of Beyond100K •
  • Dimitry Anselme, Smith Family Senior Vice President and Chief Officer, Facing History & Ourselves

Rapaport Lecture: A Conversation on Law, Repair, and Civic Life

  • Moderator: Chancellor Shuly Rubin Schwartz
  • Martha Minow, 300th Anniversary University Professor, Harvard Law School
  • Susan Sturm, George M. Jaffin Professor of Law and Social Responsibility, Columbia Law School
Chancellor Shuly Rubin Schwartz pictured with Martha Minow and Susan Strom