A Jewish Bet Din Then And Now

By Brenda Howard


When it comes to converting to Judaism, it can often be a lengthy process, especially when converting from Christianity. In addition, all conversions must be approved by a Jewish Bet din. In ancient times, a Bet din was the primary building block of the Biblical law of Israel. Also known as the house of judgment, a Bet din is now defined as a rabbinical court for those whom practice Orthodox Judaism.

Currently, rabbinical courts are provided the power to oversee a number of issues related to the religion. For, a matter of litigation or Din Torah in Israel and Jewish communities around the world are judged by a Diaspora of differing authority levels.

Original courts were inspired by Jethro and Moses, the first men to be provided with such powers, then later affirmed by God whom gave a direct command to the Jews to establish officers and judges inside community gates. Whereas, the Torah also recommends that a ruler delegate powers of judgment to lower level courts.

In ancient times, there were three types of courts. These included a grand central court with 71 members and two smaller courts of 23 members each with one having hierarchy over the other. While all towns with a population of 120 to 230 residents, had to have a court of 23 under the jurisdiction of the tribal court.

In Judaism, the Talmud and Mishnah distinguish the difference between criminal, ritual or money matters and impose regulations for each. As with other courts, cases involving criminal activity often have far more stringent limitations than others. While this is the case, Bet dins ruled in all types of cases.

Since the suspension of Semicha in ancient practice, all Bet dins which existed in Medieval or modern times are in theory a court overseen by laymen acting as arbitrators. In most cases, these individuals are provided greater powers than others and are often composed of rabbis whom are experienced when it comes the rules and regulations set by the Bet din. When an individual desires to attend a training institute, especially in Israel to acquire qualification as a religious judge, the individual is considered superior to those of normal rabbinical qualifications.

While an Orthodox Bet din requires a minimum of three men whom are knowledgeable in Jewish Law, these individuals can often be difficult to locate. As such, the law now provides that even one Orthodox Jewish man can establish a Bet din. In addition, as each community is required to establish a dedicated Bet din, communities can choose how many judges to place on the court.

When selecting these men, communities need to choose individuals which can instruct others in Jewish law. At the same time, rabbis serving as members of a Bet din do not need to have a complete understanding of all laws, just those which pertain to a specific case. For example, if sitting on the court for a conversion review, the rabbi would only need expertise in the area of the conversion process.




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