|
Re-starting the
Jewish heart
The Sanhedrin is the name of the 71-member Jewish court that
was alone empowered to rule on such nation-affecting matters as who is or is
not a prophet, pass final judgments on capital cases and issue rulings that
would affect the religious practice of all the world's Jews.
The first Sanhedrin was formed shortly after the giving of
the Torah, when God told Moses to "assemble 70 of Israel's elders... the
ones you know to be the people's elders and leaders.... I will cause some of
the spirit that you possess to emanate, and I will grant it to them. You will
then not have to bear the responsibility all alone" (Numbers 11:16).
The Lord then "caused the spirit that had been imparted
on Moses to emanate, and He bestowed it upon the 70 elders. When the spirit
descended on them, they gained the gift of prophecy and did not lose it."
These 70, with Moses, comprised the first court.
The nation was then commanded to obey all (majority)
Sanhedrin rulings, on pain of death: "If you are unable to reach a
decision in a case involving capital punishment... where there is a dispute in
your territorial courts, then you must set out and go up to the place that God
your Lord shall choose. You must approach the Levitical priests, and the
supreme court that exists at the time. When you make the inquiry, they will
declare to you a legal decision... you must do as they tell you, carefully
following their every decision. You must keep the Torah as they interpret it
for you, and follow the laws that they legislate for you. Do not stray to the
right or left from the word that they declare to you. If there is any man who
rebels and refuses to listen to the priest or other judge who is in charge of
serving God your Lord there, then that man must be put to death" (Deut.
16:8, Deut. 17).
Its mention in Chronicles, Josephus and of course the Talmud
proves that this institution was fully functional at least until 70 CE, when
the Second Temple was destroyed. Some of the later Sanhedrin members are said
to have had divine inspiration, such as the prophets Haggai, Zechariah and
Malachi.
To become members of the Sanhedrin, initiates had not only
to scale the pinnacle of a nationwide educational system, but experience
ordination by a laying-on of hands.
Some believe that until at least one genuine bearer of the
tradition comes forward to anoint the 70 other would-be Sanhedrin members, a
modern body cannot be said to have divine approval. That "Judaism's
Supreme Court" will in fact reconvene, however, is implicit in God's
promise that "I will restore your judges as at the first" (Isaiah
1:26).
Of course, even with that authority, Sanhedrin members are
merely mortal, and are nowhere described as infallible. The Torah and Talmud
thus provided several legal (i.e. God-approved) means of redress in the event
of Sanhedrin error.
In Jerusalem recently interviewed Rabbi Yeshayahu Hollander,
a member of the nascent Sanhedrin responsible for relations with the gentile
world and reestablishing the other functions performed by the Sanhedrin. His
answers were then vetted and affirmed by Rabbi Yoel Shwartz, head of the beit
din (rabbinical court) of Bnei Noah and a teacher at the Dvar Yerushalayim
Yeshiva, and Rabbi Yehiel Sitzman, who is active in helping guide gentiles who
wish to follow the laws which Judaism teaches they are obligated to observe.
Of course, interacting with the gentile world was only one
of the Sanhedrin's functions; the larger purpose of "Judaism's Supreme
Court" was to act as a unifying influence on the Jewish world.
For example, a functioning Sanhedrin issuing authoritative
rulings (something which can't happen until the court is situated on The Temple
Mount and its rulings earn the approval of a majority of world Jewry) could end
Judaism's current division into Reconstructionist, Reform, Conservative,
Orthodox and haredi streams, update such things as the halachic position on
electricity, Internet, organ transplants and bioengineering, and unify Shabbat
observance and standards of conversion.
There have been
earlier, unsuccessful attempts to revive the Sanhedrin. What makes this attempt
different?
This is the first attempt to reestablish the Sanhedrin in
the Land of Israel at a time when the people of Israel represent the majority
of the inhabitants... Today Israel is the center of Jewish life. Thus it has
now become a duty for the Jews in the Holy Land to try to establish a
Sanhedrin.
But even this
"new" Sanhedrin did not at first see itself as official. Is this
still the case?
Yes. To be "official" the basic requirement from a
practical standpoint is that the top level of talmidei hachamim [Talmud
scholars] either be part of the Sanhedrin or recognize it.
Is a certain level of
ruah hakodesh (divine inspiration) in at least one member necessary, as in the
times of the original Sanhedrin?
Maimonides does not list ruah hakodesh as a definite
prerequisite.
What relationship is
envisioned between the Sanhedrin and the gentile world in general? With the
Bnei Noah in particular?
It is our duty to strive to bring the Torah to all the
nations. This is indicated in many places... The nations are already coming to
learn, as we see by the developing Bnei Noah movement - those wonderful
non-Jews who have taken upon themselves to observe the Seven Noahide Laws
[sometimes called "The Noahide Covenant" or more figuratively
"The Rainbow Covenant"]. Many Bnei Noah also take on additional
commandments.
There is a thirst for the word of the almighty, and it is
our duty to meet this need. This Word was especially given at Sinai to Israel,
whose role is to be "a kingdom of kohanim [priests] and a holy
nation" [Exodus 19:6] which means, among other duties, that it is the duty
of the Jews to teach the nations, just as it is one of the duties of the
kohanim to teach the Jews, as Malachi says: "For the priest's lips should
keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth; for he is the
messenger of the Lord of hosts" [Malachi 2:7]. Bnei Noah join the Jews in
observing Psalm 105:1: "O give
thanks unto the Lord, call upon His name; make known His doings among the
peoples."
What changes would the
Sanhedrin be looking to encourage in such things as Christian and Islamic
belief and practice?
We would try to
encourage the acceptance of the message the Almighty sent to mankind at Sinai
through the Jewish people, and the understanding that the Almighty has never
revoked this message.... [which has been] misunderstood or intentionally
distorted by the spokesmen of Islam and Christianity. This misunderstanding
must be rectified, the distortions recognized, the true message learned and
heeded.
And would the
Sanhedrin permit or encourage such people if they wanted to live in Israel?
There are many other
conditions necessary for living in the Holy Land. If and when met, yes, it
would be permissible for a non-Jew to settle.
What of the Hindu
pantheon?
The common
understanding is that the Hindu pantheon reflects a religion which is not
monotheistic. As such, believers in this pantheon are not Bnei Noah.
What will be the
eventual relationship between the Sanhedrin and such existing authorities as
the United Nations, the World Court and the political leadership of the world's
nations?
We are looking forward
to a working relationship with these organizations. The motto of the UN is
"they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into
pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall
they learn war any more." This motto is part of verse 4 in Isaiah chapter
2; it would be proper to consider the whole verse: "And it shall come to
pass in the end of days that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be
established at the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills,
and all nations shall stream unto it. And many nations shall come and say: 'O
come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God
of Jacob;' and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths. For
out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
And He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide for many peoples, and
they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning
hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn
war any more."
It is our firm belief
that the vision of verse 4 will become a reality only after the world accepts
and internalizes the message indicated in verse 3.
Clearly, selecting,
training and empowering the worldwide courts and court officials envisioned by
the Seven Noahide Laws will be a massive undertaking. What is this going to
cost, and how long is it expected to take?
We have not put
together an "executive summary." The answer depends on many factors.
The first and foremost
factor is understanding; people must understand that the world is in a very
dangerous situation. There is a serious threat of nuclear war. There is a
serious threat of moral disintegration. We are being taught that there is no
absolute morality, no real "right" and "wrong," only
subjective "narratives."
When the gravity of
the situation is finally recognized, the means will be found.
What would be the
involvement of already-extant rabbinical courts in this process?
One of the Noahide commandments is to set up a social system
with a legal framework, including courts. The function of the Jews is to teach
and advise, to help the nations do this, mainly by themselves.
Would already
Bible-believing, Israel-supporting Christian evangelical groups (and/or
existing international legal-ethical bodies) be permitted, expected or
encouraged to help bring this about?
Yes, when they have accepted the Noahide covenant.
Would actual Sanhedrin membership be strictly limited to Jews?
The Sanhedrin is a Jewish institution which mainly deals
with Judaism, but it also has a function regarding non-Jews - to facilitate the
spread of the Torah. In this regard we hope for the partnership of leaders from
every nation. Each nation can decide how to handle its own affairs.
And regarding the
Jewish world, once the Sanhedrin is officially recognized as the final
authority regarding Jewish belief and practice, where will such things be
"set" on the current Reform-to-haredi continuum? In other words, what
will be done to establish guidelines that will gain the confidence and support
of most of the planet's Jews?
When the nations understand the function of Israel and the
role of the Torah, so will all the Jews understand their obligations to the
whole world, and this will unite the people of Israel.
The prophecy is that
the world's nations will one day look to Jerusalem (and the Sanhedrin) for
guidance. Do you see forces at work today that will help bring such universal
admiration?
Yes, we do: in the return to Torah by the Bnei Noah, which
reflects a longing for the authentic call of the Almighty. This call has to be
the basis of action. We are determined to do our part in this cosmic
undertaking by preparing suitable people.
As you probably know,
the very idea of reconstituting the Sanhedrin is being met with a mixture of
hostility, ridicule and indifference by both Jews and gentiles. Is more than
education required?
Certainly any means for bringing people closer to their
covenant with the Almighty is of great importance. Education is the first and
most important step. But education without action is not enough.
Proper education brings action. We attempt to use any
vehicle that will help bring people closer to truth.
|
