February 10

Charles-Louis de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu (1689-1755) was a French lawyer and Enlightenment philosopher. His seminal work, 'The Spirit of the Laws,' advocated for the separation of legislative, executive, and judicial powers. He served as a judge in the Bordeaux Parliament before dedicating himself to literature and political thought. Montesquieu's ideas deeply influenced the framers of the United States Constitution and modern democratic governance. He traveled extensively in Europe, gathering observations on different forms of government. His writings promoted liberty, the rule of law, and checks on arbitrary authority.

Born in 1931 in Brooklyn, New York, David Hartman was ordained as an Orthodox rabbi before earning a doctorate in philosophy. He moved to Israel in the 1970s and became a professor of Jewish philosophy. In 1976, he founded the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem to foster dialogue among diverse streams of Judaism. His writings explored the interplay of tradition and modernity in Jewish thought. Hartman served as a mentor to students and leaders worldwide. He advocated for ethical engagement and pluralism in religious practice. Hartman’s legacy continues through the institute’s educational programs. He died in 2013 at the age of 82.