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 gathering of a group of the wise ones on a hill that is renowned as a holy place was the beginning of establishing a comprehensive legal system. This is referred to as the Jewish Bet Din. It is where the laws and its provision mainly reside. Being the supreme house of all laws and national court, it governs provisions related to both religion and civil affairs. Its absolute power already took over governance of all the cities, villages, and tribal groups in a country.

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.

Sanhedrin Katana consisted of twenty three judges. These judges would gather in some of biggest cities to discuss on important legal matters and issues. Just like the most supreme court, it had the authority to regulate rulings and impose penalties which are capital, corporal, and monetary in nature.

The smaller cities or villages were composed of mainly one hundred twenty men or less, most of which are adults. These, on the other hand, had the smallest courts that comprised of three judges. They could be more than three if the number of remaining ones is odd. Their judges, however, were not allowed to impose monetary punishments but not on corporal and capital types.

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.

This is still evident in the holy land because of the rabbi scholars who are taking good care of it. They do not just take a good care for it but also supervise, direct, and take control on every resolution that are being made. Questions on the laws and other issues are also tackled. Divorce is one classical example.

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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