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"My aspiration is to live in a Jewish state that belongs to the family of enlightened nations... I do not know how much of this will be fulfilled, but as long as I am able, I will fight for a Jewish and democratic Israel—humane and part of the advanced world."
Prof. Amnon Rubinstein z"l.
Reichman University established a pioneering research center in 2022, marking a global first in its field. The center, founded through the generous endowment of the late Prof. Amnon Rubinstein—Israel Prize laureate for legal research and former Minister of Education—focuses on addressing Israel’s foundational constitutional challenges and devising strategies to confront them.
Operating under the auspices of the Harry Radzyner Law School, the center collaborates closely with the Lauder School of Government, Diplomacy, and Strategy. It is led by three eminent scholars: Prof. Liav Orgad, Prof. Dori kellgsbald, and Prof. Yaniv Roznai.
The constitutional order is teetering on the brink of a global crisis. Over the past two decades, international law and global politics have been reshaped by five major crises: the national security crisis following the 9/11 attacks, the 2008 global financial crisis, the European migrant crisis that began in 2015, the global health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and an ongoing political crisis stemming from the rapid pace of scientific and technological advancements, the rise of populism and radical political movements, and frequent shifts in majority-minority relations. These developments, coupled with the erosion of social cohesion, global inequality, demographic transformations, and declining public trust in democratic institutions, pose profound challenges to the fundamental values and institutions that define modern enlightenment.
Israel's constitutional framework faces constant upheaval. It is a state without a rigid constitution or comprehensive bill of rights, characterized by a unicameral legislature (as opposed to a bicameral system), a lack of clear separation of powers, and a state of perpetual emergency since its establishment in 1948. Israel also lacks a longstanding liberal-democratic tradition and features a demographic majority that often becomes a political minority, governed by coalitions of demographic minorities. As a microcosm of global challenges, Israel grapples with issues such as religion and state, majority-minority tensions, the balance between universal and particularistic values, and the imperative to safeguard human rights during times of crisis. In such a reality, it is far from certain whether Israel’s constitutional law can achieve its goals or ensure political stability.
The Rubinstein Center for Constitutional Challenges is the first of its kind globally, dedicated to addressing the most pressing constitutional challenges facing Israel and the Western world.
Prof. Amnon Rubinstein z"l
