Charles Manekin is an internationally renowned American-Israeli Jewish philosopher. He is a Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at the University of Maryland (UMD), where he served for many years as the Director of the Jewish Studies Center.
Manekin is a premier expert in medieval Jewish and Islamic philosophy, with particular depth in the study of Maimonides. His academic work focuses on logic, ethics, and the intersection of reason and faith. Beyond his scholarly texts, he analyzes contemporary Israeli politics through his prominent blog, Jeremiah’s Garden, drawing on his philosophical background. He is widely regarded as a model for applying classical Jewish rationalist ethics to modern political commentary.
Manekin is among the most critical Jewish intellectuals living in Israel. From the perspective of moral philosophy, he offers an unsparing critique of occupation policies. He steadfastly supports equal civil rights for Palestinians and calls for a total end to the apartheid regime. He believes the pursuit of justice is a requirement of both Halakha and reason. He has written: “The pursuit of justice does not stop at a border. If we, as Jews, turn a blind eye to the injustice happening next door, we betray the core honesty of our philosophical tradition. True patriotism is pointing out that the state is heading toward a moral abyss and striving to correct it.” He actively participates in petitions calling for international pressure on Israel, viewing it as the only way to protect Palestinian lives and uphold Jewish ethics.