Organ Donation and the Divine Lien in Talmudic Law

'The combination of insightfulness, comprehensiveness, subtlety and creativity that is manifested page after page, left me utterly breathless.' Rabbi Saul Berman, Yeshiva University, New York
'Madeline Kochen's interpretation of Jewish legal principles opens a new window onto the ethics of organ donation. Her illuminating take on Talmudic property law suggests a new kind of transaction that is neither a sale nor a gift. Solving contemporary problems with ancient wisdom, Kochen argues that God may give the gift of life but we have the power to imitate God by saving lives while enabling others to redeem their claims on us. A stunning achievement.' Joseph William Singer, Bussey Professor of Law, Harvard Law School, Massachusetts
'With immense learning and in fascinating detail, Madeline Kochen explores what Jewish law says and what it might say about organ donation. But she is after a bigger prize: her book points toward a radically innovative theory of private property and distributive justice.' Michael Walzer, Institute for Advance Study, Princeton University
'Madeline Kochen is both an excellent jurist and an excellent Talmudist. In her book, Organ Donation and the Divine Lien in Talmudic Law, she takes on a major topic of great contemporary significance in a fashion that will enable the Talmudic tradition on these matters to take its place within contemporary moral and legal discourse.' Daniel Boyarin, Hermann P. and Sophia Taubman Professor of Talmudic Culture, University of California, Berkeley