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

By Kimberly Murray


Even many centuries ago, a legal system already came into an existence. This administered various rulings of governance and punishments as well. They served as the foundation of every judicial decisions made, even until today.

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.

Three types of courts were identified. Although the third one has no name, its nature and structure are written in this literature. The two are called Sanhedrin and Sanhedrin Katana.

Sanhedrin is known as the highest form of court. As written earlier, it was composed of a large group of wise men called the sage who had meetings on a holy mount. The seventy one wise men took over the court until a religious leader and prophet wooed them to join him in governing the whole nation. Thus, he became their leader who is authorized to make a final judgment on specific legal matters. As years went by, a nasi was appointed to replace him and acted as a leader of a group.

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.

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.

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 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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