Grapple with contemporary ethics through a prism of Jewish legal tradition.

Defend ethical arguments grounded in Jewish wisdom.

Our competitions are structured around a detailed case alongside a curated sourcebook of traditional and modern Jewish texts. By applying the texts in the sourcebook, students construct legal arguments to address the ethical issues of the case. Cases in recent years have addressed timely issues including tainted money, #MeToo, and artificial intelligence.

 

Powered by the Hadar Institute and supported by Maimonides Fund, the competition offers students the opportunity to present their arguments in front of a panel of expert judges. Our aim is to inspire rigorous ethical debate rooted in Jewish legal wisdom, providing students an international stage to engage the most significant moral challenges facing the Jewish community and the world.

 

The Maimonides Moot Court High School Competition occurs over a thrilling weekend. Beginning with an inspirational shabbaton and culminating in a spirited competition, the experience brings an international cohort of students together into a shared conversation rooted in the intensive study of Jewish ethics.

We offer students an empowering look at the inner workings of Jewish legal tradition. In the months leading up to the competition, students are provided a detailed case involving a contemporary ethical quandary. They collaborate under the guidance of an advisor to craft a written decision and oral argument based on a provided sourcebook of curated sources. Following a shabbat celebrated in community, students debate their rulings in front of a panel of expert judges.

Jewish scholarship has always involved vigorous minds engaged in lively debate. We model this dynamic process on an international stage, demonstrating to students how Jewish wisdom can span cultures, geography, and time to influence our moral clarity today. Through a deep engagement with the sources, we aim to inspire the development of moral leadership skills rooted in the timeless wisdom of Jewish texts.

Maimonides Moot Court Competition staff

Yitzhak Bronstein, Director of Maimonides Moot Court Competition

Yitzhak is the director of Maimonides Moot Court Competition, overseeing all educational content and student programming. Previously he served in Chicago as the Senior Regional Jewish Educator for Moishe House, working with young adult leaders to strengthen educational experiences in their peer-led communities. He is an alumnus of the FASPE Ethics Fellowship (Fellowship at Auschwitz for the Study of Professional Ethics) and is a participant in the M² Senior Educators Cohort. Originally from New York, Yitzhak has studied at the University of Chicago Divinity School, Yeshiva University, and Yeshivat Har Etzion. He lives in Washington DC.

Ari Katzman-Jacobson, Program Operations Associate

Ariela (Ari) Katzman-Jacobson (pronouns: she/her) is the Program Operations Associate at Hadar, where she helps plan and execute all Hadar and Maimonides Moot Court Competition (MMCC) programs. Ari graduated from Bard College in 2021 with a BA in Anthropology and Middle Eastern Studies. Prior to attending Bard, Ari participated in the BINA Gap Year Program where she studied at a Secular Yeshiva in South Tel Aviv. She has previously served as the Co-Head of the Jewish Student Organization at Bard, a Fellow at the Hannah Arendt Center for Politics and Humanities, and an Intern at Political Research Associates and Seeds of Peace.

Avi Strausberg, Director of National Learning Initiatives at Hadar

Rabbi Avi Strausberg is the Director of National Learning Initiatives at Hadar, and is based in Washington, DC. Previously, she served as the Director of Congregational Learning of Temple of Aaron in St. Paul, Minnesota. Avi studied at Hadar as a year fellow, and served on our summer faculty in 2014. She received her rabbinic ordination from Hebrew College in Boston and is a Wexner Graduate Fellow.  She also holds a Masters in Jewish Education.  While pursuing her studies, Avi was honored to serve as a rabbinic intern at Kehillath Israel and Temple Sinai.  She has taught students of different ages and backgrounds at Kehillath Israel, Temple Sinai, Makor, and Hadar.  Additionally, Avi has worked as a chaplain intern at Hebrew Senior Life and organized an anti-trafficking campaign as a rabbinic fellow at T’ruah.  Energized by engaging creatively with Jewish text, she has written several theatre pieces inspired by the Torah and maintains a Daf Yomi haiku blog in which she writes daily Talmudic haikus. Avi is most grateful for her wife, Chana, and two children, Ori and Niv.

Advisory Board

Coming soon

Explore our cases and sourcebooks

In preparation for our annual competitions, students are provided a detailed case which engages a contemporary ethical issue. Our sourcebooks contain curated texts spanning the full breadth of Jewish tradition; ancient and medieval texts are juxtaposed with modern perspectives from our present moment. A strong argument will engage these sources and bring them into conversation with each other.

 

 

Additional Helpful Resources

General FAQSCollegiate FAQSHigh School FAQS

Who are typical Maimonides Moot Court Competition participants?

We design our programs to be meaningful for Jewish students of all backgrounds, irrespective of previous experience with studying Jewish texts. There is no “ideal” background for students, beyond a willingness to grapple with ethics through our curated sources.

Can I participate without having previous experience with Jewish law or Jewish text study?

Yes! Participants are provided a sourcebook with all of the materials needed to compete. All texts are included in their original language alongside an English translation.

How do you choose the topic for each year's case?

Our goal is to inspire a rigorous conversation around a significant ethical issue which directly impacts the lives of students. In recent years our cases have explored a broad range of moral issues including artificial intelligence,criminal justice, and medical ethics.

I've never done a public speaking competition. Is this still something I can do?

Absolutely! For many participants, this moot court experience is their first public speaking competition.

What type of Shabbat experience can I expect?

We design our programming for students and schools of all backgrounds, and so we offer a pluralistic Shabbat experience that accommodates a variety of Jewish practices in strict accordance with halakhah. Please be in touch if you have any concerns.

Who can I speak to for more information?

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to Yitzhak Bronstein (bronstein@hadar.org) with any questions about participating.

What is the application process?

We welcome college students of all backgrounds to apply to participate in the competition. The application consists of several short answer questions.

Can I register without teammates, or with students from other schools?

Yes! Students can sign up with a group of teammates, or let us place you on a team. Whether you have a team in mind or not, all students must apply individually.

How many students are on a team?

Teams consist of 2-4 students.

What is the conference structure?

Over the course of a weekend, participants enjoy conversations led by prominent guest speakers, small group activities, and social programming, all of which occurs in an immersive Shabbat environment.  The competition takes place on Sunday morning.

What is the structure of the competition?

Each team’s presentation will have three components, which will last 20-25 minutes.
(1) An initial Oral Argument of up to 10 minutes.
(2) Judges then have an opportunity to ask 1-2 questions to the team.
(3)The team has the option of offering a closing statement of up to 2 minutes.

Can I use secular sources in my argument?

Yes! While arguments should be primarily rooted in Jewish sources, you are welcome to introduce secular texts to buttress your argument.

Can I use Jewish sources not provided in the source sheets?

Yes, definitely!

How are teams scored?

The judging rubric scores four criteria:
(1) Knowledge and comprehension of topic
(2) Creativity of argument
(3) Quality of Responses
(4) Presentation delivery

Which campuses have participated in the competition?

Since the collegiate competition launched in 2018, we have welcomed students from several dozen campuses throughout North America, Israel, and the UK. We are excited for an even larger expansion in the coming year.

What is the cost to participate?

Once accepted, participation is fully subsidized and includes a generous travel subsidy. Registration includes: hotel accommodations, competition costs, Shabbat programming and all meals.

Who can I speak to for more information?

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to Yitzhak Bronstein (bronstein@hadar.org) with any questions about participating.

Who is eligible to participate in the MMCC High School competition?

Maimonides Moot Court Competition is open to all high school students and designed to be a meaningful experience irrespective of the type of school one attends. There is no “ideal” background for students, beyond a willingness to grapple with ethics through our curated Jewish sources.

Must student teams be affiliated with a school?

No! While many students form teams within their school, we welcome you to form a team with students who attend other schools. Synagogues, youth groups, JCCs, camps, and other organizations are all welcome to participate in the shabbaton and competition.

How can I prepare for the competition if my school does not participate?

Join our Fall Cohort and study with us virtually! Registration details can be found here.

How many students compete on each team?

Student teams typically have 3-4 students.

When and where will the MMCC high school competition take place?

The Shabbaton will take place from March 24-27, 2022 at Pearlstone Center in Reisterstown, MD. The competition will take place on March 27, 2022.

What is the structure of the competition weekend?

Programming begins on Thursday evening and continues through Sunday afternoon. The first three days are dedicated to community building, preparing for the competition, conversations around Jewish ethics, and celebrating Shabbat. The actual competition will take place on Sunday, March 27, 2022.

Will there be an option to participate in the competition virtually?

Yes. Details about the time/date of the virtual competition will be announced in the fall.

When is the application deadline for the 2022 competition?

The deadline to apply is October 15, 2021.

How many students participate in MMCC? Where are they from?

Our 2021 competition had over 175 students from the United States, Canada, Israel, South Africa, Australia, and El Salvador.

Do you have a denominational affiliation?

Maimonides Moot Court Competition is a pluralistic program that welcomes students across the full spectrum of religious observance. Our shabbaton is often one of the highlights of the experience for students of all backgrounds.

All meals served will be fully certified Kosher, and all programming is in accordance with halakhah at all times. Multiple options are provided for prayer spaces to ensure there are appropriate options for everyone.

Who can I speak to for more information?

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to Yitzhak Bronstein (bronstein@hadar.org) with any questions about participating.

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