Pepperdine Caruso Law Professor Teaches 1L Contracts Class Remotely From Israel During War
Michael A. Helfand, Brenden Mann Foundation Chair in Law and Religion, taught his first-year contracts class remotely on Monday from Israel following the declaration of war. As is his custom, Professor Helfand traveled to Israel with his family to observe the High Holy Days. Professor Helfand and his family will be returning to the United States as soon as they can.
Professor Helfand’s contracts student Ari Steinberg commented, “Any person who visits Israel, violence erupting is always a thought in the back of your mind, but you never imagine it to become reality while you are there. Despite Professor Helfand watching this becoming reality in front of him, and everything he might have been feeling and going through with his family, he still took the time out of his day, or the middle of the night I should say, to make sure our class was still learning the material. I can say without a doubt that I've never had a teacher show me that they cared about my learning more than in that moment. In the middle of a war, Professor Helfand showed our class how important it was to him that we don't miss a beat. He showed us his level of commitment to our learning, and this has made me want to match that level of commitment to our learning environment. To act like it's all just fine for that hour and a half, was honestly inspirational. As a Jewish student, to know that I have a Jewish professor, like Professor Helfand, committing himself to my studies, makes me feel proud to be part of the Jewish community here at Pepperdine. Our class has been thinking of and praying for Professor Helfand and his family’s safe return home.”
Dean Paul Caron said, “Our Pepperdine Caruso Law community is praying for Michael and his family, all of our Jewish faculty, staff, students, and alumni, the country and people of Israel, and all people in the region during this horrific time. We are heartbroken by the devastating suffering and loss of innocent lives.”
Pepperdine Caruso Law will be holding a time for our community to gather and lament and grieve together on Wednesday, October 11 at 12:40 PM in Classroom F. All are welcome to attend.