The Law Library at Columbia is one of a handful of libraries at Columbia (along with Barnard, Teachers’ College and the Medical School) that are under a different administration, and thus are somewhat separate from the overall Columbia Libraries system. That being said, all of our libraries work very closely together, and there is still plenty of Jewish material in this library that is worth discussing. (And students in the Law Library are welcome to come – and do come – to the Norman E. Alexander Librarian for help with research.)
The Li Lu Law Library at Columbia contains “one of the most impressive collections of legal materials in the country,” where examples of both Jewish and Israeli law can be found throughout. Courses at the Law School include international law, including Israeli law, as well as religious law, such as Jewish Law and Business Ethics from a Jewish Law perspective, and so the library has many resources to support these classes. The Law Library contains many books in Hebrew and other languages, covering general and specific aspects of both Jewish and Israeli law, the Talmud and the major Jewish codes, as well as Israeli Supreme Court judgments and laws of the State of Israel.
One of the most important special collections relating to Jews in the Law Library is massive collection of books and archives (see images, above), relating to the Nuremberg Trials following the Second World War. The collection contains shelf upon shelf of transcripts of testimonies, interrogation, and deliberation around the Holocaust and other Nazi atrocities, and it is a very important resource for anyone doing research on the World War II and its aftermath.
On a personal note, I was delighted to see photos of the various early classes in the Law School (the school was established relatively late, for Columbia, in 1858). Particularly exciting was an image of Norman E. Alexander (Law ’36), who graduated from the Law school 90 years ago this year! We are of course very grateful to the Norman E. Alexander Foundation, which supports the Jewish Studies work in the library! Below is the full Class of ’36 photograph.
