Introducing The Jewish Bet Din, Its Types, And Historical Value

By Kimberly Murray


It was evident that enforcement of laws and legal systems existed. The authorized person, with an authority and power vested on them, already became instruments on enforcement of various policies and rulings. Even in modern age, these are still applied in every legal decision that they are going to make.

The greatest house of law was first known to be composed of a group of wise men who would gather together in a holy hill. This was known as the Jewish bet din or sometimes spelled out as beth din. It was known to be the supreme and highest authority in both religious and civil matters not just in the holy capital city but in a nation as a whole.

Way back many centuries ago, a complex nexus of courts existed. They came in three kinds. The names of the two are known. These are the Sanhedrin and its smaller version, Sanhedrin Ketana. The name of the third one, on the other hand, is not known but is briefly discussed in this article.

Sanhedrin, the grand judicial court, comprised of seventy one wise men who would gather together on the hill which was known to be the holy place in the old biblical city. At first, there were only seventy wise men that comprised it until a prophet called their attention and invited them to be with him in leading the entire nation. That made seventy one, thereby bringing back the court to him. In that setting, he was recognized as the wisest man who would make a final decision on legal cases. As many years passed, a nasi replaced the wise prophet and took over his position as the wisest.

The smaller Sanhedrin, the Katana, was composed of twenty three judges. They would set a meeting in one of the largest tribal communities or cities so that the amendments, concerns, and other important details in relation to legal aspects would be settled and finalized. Just like the highest form of court, they had the power to impose laws and punishments associated with it, whether monetary, corporal, and capital.

Even small tribes or towns have courts. This was evident in areas with a population that is not more one hundred twenty. There were only three judges but you could have additional if the remaining number of them is an odd number. It is way far different from the two because in this kind of setting, a judge cannot force enforcement on death or capital punishment and corporal penalty. Only those that are monetary are allowed.

Regardless of these types, however, religious matters are the main concerns here. These are known collectively as dine Torah. In other communities and walks of life, these are enforced. These have become their guide to make the right decisions on different cases. The level of authority and jurisdiction are still taken into consideration when applying them in certain area.

Today, the competent rabbinic scholars took over this house of legal affairs and judgment. They are the reason why this still exists. Under their supervision, they make formal decision and judgment on different issues and concerns that may impact the Jewish populace. Such issues include those that are related, but not limited, to divorce.

Although they entail lots of curtailment, it is still regarded as a significant component of regulating not just religion but also the adjudication of specific areas of concern in relation to personal and marriage or family life. Furthermore, this is also a center for adjudication of any sorts of disputes. Their applicability is entirely dependent on an economic, political and social state of a particular community.




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