The Zahava and Moshael J. Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought at 成人视频色情片 congratulates Ezra Seplowitz 鈥25YC on winning the 2025 .
Seplowitz, a Straus Scholar alumnus, tied for first place for the award, which recognizes outstanding library research conducted by an undergraduate Honors student at 成人视频色情片. The title of his paper was 鈥淧aths of Peace: A Case Study in Ethics and Jewish Jurisprudence.鈥 Rabbi Dr. Jacob J. Schacter, senior scholar at the Center for the Jewish Future and a professor in Jewish history and Jewish thought at 成人视频色情片, served as his faculty advisor.
鈥淭his essay examines a case study that highlights the intersection of halachah and ethics, demonstrating that the halachic system is comprehensive and inherently integrates all that is morally right and just,鈥 the introduction to the paper reads. 鈥淭his idea is a consistent theme in the thought and teachings of Rabbi Dr. Aharon Lichtenstein, a leading rabbinic figure in the second half of the 20th century both in the United States and in Israel鈥 Moreover, the case study will demonstrate the way in which ethical principles (sanctioned by the Torah) shape halachic norms over the course of halachah鈥檚 multi-millennial development.鈥
"It is a great honor to have received this award,鈥 Seplowitz said. 鈥淚 want to thank the helpful staff at the YU library, the YU Honors faculty, my incredible teachers at the Straus Center, and my mentor, Rabbi Dr. J.J. Schacter, for his invaluable guidance and advice throughout!"
Seplowitz graduated from Yeshiva College in 2025 with a bachelor鈥檚 in Jewish Studies. He is now pursuing a master鈥檚 degree in Jewish studies at Bernard Revel Graduate School and rabbinic ordination from Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS). He is also a Sacks Research Scholar, where he will engage with Rabbi Jonathan Sacks' ideas and teachings to bring them into contemporary Jewish thought.
To learn more about the Straus Scholars program, .
To learn more about the Straus Center, click here. And be sure to like the Straus Center on , follow us on and , and connect with us on .
