Questions tagged [sanhedrin]
Actions and internal workings of the high religious court during Temple, Mishnaic, and Talmudic times.
57 questions
1
vote
1
answer
451
views
Will there be Sanhedrin in Messianic Times?
Following my back-and-forth with @RabbiKaii I suddenly realized that the reinstitution of a functioning Sanherdin is not mentioned in Rambam's vision of the Messianic times (Hil. Melachim 11.1 and on)....
- 28k
1
vote
1
answer
175
views
How can Sanhedrin abolish "whole body of Halachah" from the Torah?
The Mishna in Horayos (1.3) describes a possibility of the Sanhedrin annulling a "whole body of Halachah" from the Torah, such idolatry or Shabbos, and concludes that "they are exempt&...
- 28k
0
votes
1
answer
67
views
Sanhedrin power do redefine Hebrew language concepts (left and right)
The Torah forbids us from straying from Sanhedrin's rulings left or right (Deut 17.11). Left and right are abstract linguistic concepts that reflect certain social conventions. Needless to say, the ...
- 28k
2
votes
1
answer
87
views
Does the Sanhedrin of 23 have any involvement whatsoever in judging damages? (financial disputes)
It seemed from reading Mishnayot Sanhedrin that the court of 3 was in charge of damages. They said 71 was for declaring war. 23 seemed to judge cases of non-financial disputes (death penalty if I ...
user15294
1
vote
1
answer
61
views
Is a court of 3 that has complete authority to judge damages called by the name a "Sanhedrin"?
The Mishna in Sanhedrin disscuses a court of three being sufficient to judge damages. However it does not say the name of this court. Is this court named a בית דין or is this court named a סנהדרין.
...
user15294
4
votes
1
answer
139
views
Talmud Yerushalmi vs Bavli
We all know that only a Sanhedrin can vote conclusively on a halakha for the entire nation. Since the Sanhedrin was dismantled, the next best option was to listening to the hachamim of your locale. ...
- 41
6
votes
0
answers
94
views
An ancient text arguing that an assembly with no opposition should be dissolved
In Benjamin Aryeh Hakohen Weiss's "Even Yekarah” (Choshen Mishpat, sec. 20) it refers to an ancient gentile text which specifies that when the state government has no minority/opposition members, ...
- 2,602
3
votes
0
answers
126
views
Will the Moshiach's Beit Din be "greater" than previous Batei Din? [duplicate]
The Gemara (Avodah Zarah 36a) says that a Beis Din does not have the power to overrule a Takkanah of a previous Beit Din. It is generally understood that earlier Batei Din are superior to later ones (...
- 14.7k
1
vote
0
answers
37
views
Why in a capital case of murder in beis din if all judges find the defendant guilty, is the defendent set free? [duplicate]
Why in a capital case of murder if all the judges find the defendent guilty , he is set free?
- 611
2
votes
1
answer
369
views
What's the source for unanimous decision of the Sanhedrin?
I often hear that if the Sanhedrin were to vote unanimously to condemn an accused then the verdict is that he goes free. What is the original source for this?
- 521
1
vote
2
answers
2k
views
Which Scripture is being talked about in: He who destroys one soul of a human being, the Scripture considers him as if he should destroy a whole world
I have read in Tractate Sanhedrin: Chapter 4:
Therefore the man was created singly, to teach that he who destroys
one soul of a human being, the Scripture considers him as if he should
destroy a ...
0
votes
1
answer
77
views
Based on Sanhedrin 39a:13 & Rashi commentary on Ezekiel 4:4, how does immobility (motionlessness) atone/cleanse national sins?
Was Yechezkel 4:4 method of Israel's atonement simply : immobility?
Sanhedrin 39a:13
The Holy One, Blessed be He, afflicts Ezekiel in order to cleanse the sins of the Jewish people. God instructed ...
- 1,428
0
votes
1
answer
177
views
Did Hillel get rid of the year of Jubilee?
I came across this post on 4chan:
I do not ordinarily put much stock into what Christians assert about the pharisaic order of the time, given that "Pharisee" is usually just a contextless ...
- 475
2
votes
0
answers
84
views
Warning/hasrah nowadays
If 2 witnesses give a warning to someone not to transgress an aveira, I.e. “don’t eat that dead animal or you will get lashes,” and the man eats it anyway. If the Bais Hamikdash and Sanhedrin are ...
- 1,581
1
vote
0
answers
85
views
The "Nascent Sanhedrin" - what is the position of gedolim on it?
There has been an attempt to re-establish the Sanhendrin, starting around 2004.
http://www.thesanhedrin.org/en/index.php/The_Re-established_Jewish_Sanhedrin
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
- 4,047
2
votes
0
answers
166
views
New Sanhedrin - what will it do?
According to the Rambam in Hilchos Mamarim 1 and 2, a Sanhedrin has enormous power. Roughly speaking, it oversees a) oral traditions, b) rabbinical enactments, and c) drashos: derivations using the י&...
- 4,047
4
votes
2
answers
214
views
Why was the Sanhedrin so opposed to execution?
Why was the Sanhedrin opposed to using the death penalty most times?
user24193
3
votes
1
answer
136
views
Why aren't all judicial powers stripped, why only capital punishment?
Why is capital punishment only adjudicated when the Temple is standing? If it is because the Sanhedrin needs to convene at the designated location described in Devarim 17:8, then wouldn't the rest of ...
- 572
3
votes
2
answers
417
views
Judaism position on Mishmeret HaTzniut
What is the Judaism's position on establishing a Va'ad Mishmeret HaTzniut, a private organisation which enforces tzniut rules in a specific community/town. At times they may use intimidation or ...
- 1,201
7
votes
2
answers
520
views
When the Messiah comes, will Sanhedrin be able to overturn Gezairos (Rabbinic decrees) that are not relevant today?
I've heard throughout my life that even if a decree is not applicable today, we still keep it as part of Halacha. One example that comes to mind (not sure if it's apropos here) is keeping two days of ...
- 197
1
vote
0
answers
97
views
Legitimacy of rulings accepted through spontaneous rabbinic gatherings
The Torah prescribes settling the law in a very special place:
"If a case is too baffling for you to decide, be it controversy over homicide, civil law, or assault—matters of dispute in your ...
- 28k
6
votes
1
answer
281
views
אנשי כנסת הגדולה and סנהדרין relationship
What is the relationship between the אנשי כנסת הגדולה and the Sanhedrin? Is the 70 of the Sanhedrin always included in the 120 of the כנסת הגדולה? In the time both existed what was the division of ...
- 187
6
votes
0
answers
61
views
How come that nobody could oppose to R' Gamliel in Halachah but could boot him promptly as the President?
I'm trying to understand the mechanics of the Jewish Presidency as presented in Berakhot.28a. In the story R"G asks if there is anybody who could object to him in a Halachic issue, and nobody ...
- 28k
1
vote
1
answer
49
views
Selection of pupils under R' Gamliel in Berakhot 28a
"תָּנָא אוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם, סִלְּקוּהוּ לְשׁוֹמֵר הַפֶּתַח וְנִתְּנָה לָהֶם רְשׁוּת לַתַּלְמִידִים לִיכָּנֵס. שֶׁהָיָה רַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל מַכְרִיז וְאוֹמֵר: כׇּל תַּלְמִיד שֶׁאֵין תּוֹכוֹ כְּבָרוֹ, ...
- 28k
2
votes
1
answer
150
views
Who accepted new great sanhedrin judges?
If for any reason, a judge of the 72 great sanhedrin left the great sanhedrin, who would be the one to appoint a new one?
- 995
1
vote
2
answers
318
views
Why did the model of Rabbinic Pairs (Zugot) emerge and why was it abolished?
In What was the position of Av Beis Din vs Nassi in Rabbinic Pairs? I asked about the description of the two positions in the Sanhedrin.
However, why did this model suddenly emerge after almost 1500 ...
- 28k
2
votes
1
answer
267
views
What was the position of Av Beis Din vs Nassi in Rabbinic Pairs?
Traditionally, from Moses and on there was always only one head of the Sanhedrin, the president, the prince, the king, the Supreme Judge, Av Beis Din, etc. No other members or titles or names are ever ...
- 28k
4
votes
0
answers
50
views
Are there any examples of "par ha'elem davar" in Tanakh or Talmud?
In Lev. 4:13-15, we learn
If it is the whole community of Israel that has erred and the matter escapes the notice of the congregation, so that they do any of the things which by the LORD’s ...
- 8,944
7
votes
1
answer
427
views
Rabbi Moshe Feinstein member of Sanhedrin
On page 198 of "Reb Moshe" published by Artscroll, it is told of Reb Moshe that he "needed a cardiac pacemaker inserted in his chest....Reb Moshe said, 'I know that I am not worthy to ...
12
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Declare a leap year due to coronavirus?
Today (23 March 2020) Israel's Supreme Court rejected a petition to declare this year a leap year so Pessah can be postponed for a month, and the seders don't have to occur during a lockdown (...
- 23.6k
6
votes
1
answer
270
views
Does the nascent Sanhedrin in Israel sanctify the new moon with witnesses?
In 2004, a group of rabbis in Israel attempted to begin the process of re-establishing the Sanhedrin using the Rambam's method of universal consensus to re-establish the line of semikha. Rabbi Moshe ...
- 25.1k
5
votes
3
answers
216
views
Rabbinical knowledge of idolatry
I heard once that the Sanhedrin had to know exactly what the different forms of idolatry were and how they worked in order to correctly judge cases of avodah zara brought before them. Does anyone know ...
- 28.4k
6
votes
2
answers
137
views
Why doesn't the Talmud consider the possibility that the later court was greater in wisdom and number?
In discussing the source that Megillat Esther may be read on the 11th, 12th, or 13th of Adar in addition to the 14th and 15th of Adar, the Talmud (Megillah 2a) has the following exchange:
What we
...
- 50.3k
1
vote
0
answers
47
views
A few questions related to the Knesset Hagdolah and the Sanhedrin [closed]
Wikipedia says the Great Assembly was established in 410 BCE, and I'm wondering if that's what the masorah teaches. Wikipedia also mentions that Sanhedrin began to form around 57-55 BCE, and I'm also ...
3
votes
2
answers
273
views
Was Rabban Yochanan Ben Zakkai a priest? And was he Nasi of a sanhedrin?
Was Rabban Yochanan Ben Zakkai a priest? And was he Nasi of a sanhedrin?
I ask, because I read here that he was nasi of the sanhedrin from the years 70-80 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanhedrin ...
- 2,185
3
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Is a gentile permitted to learn the original Hebrew of the Torah?
I've been reading the Divine Code by Rabbi Moshe Weiner and came across this in Part I 5:2 note. 91
"...(1) It is also prohibited for a Jew to teach Torah to gentiles in the canonised Hebrew or ...
- 31
14
votes
2
answers
1k
views
How will the next Sanhedrin function if we lost the original Semicha?
Many functions of the Sanhedrin require the group of rabbis descended from an unbroken chain of Semicha from the time of Moshe.
For example I read in Eliyahu Ki Tov's Sefer Hatoda'ah that ...
- 71.5k
3
votes
0
answers
80
views
Did Sadducees contribute to halacha? [duplicate]
We know that Sadducees served on the Sanhedrin and even became high priests. [Yoma 19b] They did not believe in the afterlife or the resurrection of the dead, but this does not mean their ...
- 23.6k
2
votes
0
answers
47
views
Considerations for impeachment of the Nassi of Sanhedrin
While cynically coincidental, my business is exclusively with the Sugya of the [temporary] impeachment of Rabban Gamliel in his Maariv Chova argument with R' Yahoshua (Brochos 27b).
אמרי עד כמה ...
- 28k
3
votes
0
answers
34
views
Considerations for electing the Nassi - theoretical vs practical?
In theory Rambam Hilchot Sanhedrin 1.3 teaches us:
הַגָּדוֹל בְּחָכְמָה שֶׁבְּכֻלָּן מוֹשִׁיבִין אוֹתוֹ רֹאשׁ עֲלֵיהֶן וְהוּא רֹאשׁ הַיְשִׁיבָה וְהוּא שֶׁקּוֹרִין אוֹתוֹ הַחֲכָמִים נָשִׂיא בְּכָל ...
- 28k
1
vote
0
answers
30
views
Order of promotion of Sanhedrin judges
There were three Sanhedrins on the Temple Mt: - The Great: 71 members and 3 lines of 23 students for filling in or replacing the judges (see Sanhedrin 37a) and - Two Lesser: 23 members each, with ...
- 28k
1
vote
1
answer
74
views
If "not in Heaven", can Sanhedrin disregard or contradict a prophet?
It is a Mitzvah to listen to a prophet (non-capital) and it is a Mitzvah to listen to the Sanhedrin (capital).
While it's accepted that a prophet can't establish new Halochos, he can command on ...
- 28k
1
vote
0
answers
100
views
Examples of a decision ruled by voting of Sanhedrin in the Talmud
If I understand correctly the Peshat of the Torah (Deut 17), when a Machlokes raises, there's a simple and Kosher way of resolving it - gathering the High Court and voting on it and, of course, ...
- 28k
5
votes
3
answers
224
views
Examples of a functioning Sanhedrin in the Talmud
We find many references in the Talmud to what could be perceived as a Sanhedrin, like Chachamim or Beis-Din, or that Hillel and his descendants were the Nessi'im (of a Sanhedrin presumably), but I don'...
- 28k
3
votes
2
answers
132
views
Actual Tannaim in the Sanhedrin
I know Shimon "HaTzadik" was in the Keneset Hagdola, but it's not the same.
Do we know by name any Tannaim who actually sat at the Great Sanhedrin of 71 sages?
3
votes
0
answers
1k
views
What direction did the Great Sanhedrin face?
In the standard scheme of the Temple and the Great Sanhedrin, taking the fact that they sat in an arc, what direction did they face - South (Altar), East (Ezrat Nashim), West(K"K) or North (wall)?
I'...
- 28k
7
votes
1
answer
872
views
Why does a small sanhedrin have 23 judges rather than 21?
Sanhedrin 1:6 explains the size of the small sanhedrin, but I'm having trouble following the reasoning. It says (my notes in brackets):
From where do we learn that the little Sanhedrin should be ...
- 57k
6
votes
1
answer
136
views
Can a Judge Issue a Ruling After his Death?
In a recent decision (No. 18-272, Yovino v. Rizo, decided February 25, 2019 Per Curiam, properly cited as 586 U. S. ___ (2019)), the United States Supreme Court (SCOTUS) dealt with the matter of a ...
- 1,059
-2
votes
1
answer
78
views
Why representatives were sent to spy and not the elders?
What was the logic of sending tribes' representatives and not simply [from the] the elders, isn't it what the elders were elected for - to decide for the masses?
In other words, even if some of them ...
- 28k
0
votes
1
answer
169
views
Was the bat kol right?
In Bava Metzia 59b, the rabbis are discussing a matter of halacha, and at some point a Voice from Heaven (bat kol) interjects an opinion. The rabbis reply that the Torah is out of God's hands (they ...
- 23.6k