Monday, February 19, 2018

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

By Kimberly Murray


Many years ago, there was already such thing as laws, judgment, or anything which pertains to the legal system. Different provisions and penalties were regulated by authorized people. Until today, these provisions and the legal system itself have become the ultimate basis of judicial decision making.

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.

During the old times, there was a convoluted series of courts. They have three known types. The first two are the Sanhedrin and Sanhedrin Ketana. There is no specific name for the third one but this article provides a description of it.

Sanhedrin is the highest and most supreme of the three. This was originally founded by seventy wise men who would met at a holy mount. A day came when a prophet asked them to be with him on a mission of governance of the nation. That made the court came back to him. He was appointed as a wisest man with a function of finalizing the relevant and formal decisions. As years passed by after his term, a nasi was appointed as a new leader that replaced him as the head.

The little version of Sanhedrin is the one next to the first type. Twenty judges are composing it. The largest cities have been the meeting place of these judges who would come from different courts. This was done to discuss on the important matters related to enforcement of rules and regulations and policies. Monetary and corporal penalties can be imposed. Just like the higher form, these courts can even impose death penalties, if ever there is a very grave violence.

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.

Yes, they are many types of them. Regardless of this fact, this kind of judicial system is more on the religious practices of a population that it governs. These matters of litigations were better known for them as dine Torah. These are a basis for decision and judgment that have been applied in other communities. However, whatever decisions are made, these are also based on varying degrees of authority and a kind of jurisdiction they were having on that community.

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 it has lots of actions that restrict a particular action or event, this is still regarded as one of essential constituents on the regulation of way of life, whether personal, religious, or marital in kind. Resolving disputes are also part of its function. Their viability on a community depends on the factors, whether social, political or even economic.




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