Posted on 01/16/2005 7:50:42 PM PST by ChicagoHebrew
The 71 rabbis seeking to fulfill the Biblical commandment of renewing the Sanhedrin continue to meet regularly, solidifying their organizational structure and establishing an agenda of topics.
Their most recent meeting was this week, in which they discussed technical and procedural issues, topics for their agenda, and the Halakhic [Jewish legal] and other ramifications of renewing the Passover sacrifice.
The rabbis held a festive ceremony this past October 13th, the 28th day of the Jewish month of Tishrei, inaugurating the Sanhedrin as Judaism's supreme legal body. They stress that by doing so, they are merely fulfilling a Biblical mitzvah (obligation). “It is a special mitzvah , based on our presence in Israel, to establish a Sanhedrin,” Rabbi Meir HaLevi, one of the 71 members of the new Sanhedrin, has explained. “The Rambam [12th-century Torah scholar Maimonides] describes the process exactly in the Mishnah Torah [his seminal work codifying Jewish Law]. When he wrote it, there was no Sanhedrin, and he therefore outlines the steps necessary to establish one."
A religious-legal assembly of 71 Sages that convened in the Holy Temple and for several centuries after its destruction, the Sanhedrin was the highest Jewish judicial tribunal in the Land of Israel. Organizers of the current edition stress that they are still in a transitional phase, and that though today's members are all Torah scholars and experts in many secular and scientific fields, every one of them has agreed to step aside the moment a more deserving candidate should step forward.
Meeting in Jerusalem’s Old City, the Sanhedrin consists of representatives of all stripes of religious Jewish society. Hareidi-religious, Hassidic, national-religious, Ashkenazi, Sephardic, modern Orthodox and university professors sit side by side in a semi-circle, seeking to re-establish Jewish legal tradition after 2,000 years of exile.
"We can make a real difference," said one member, Rabbi Chaim Richman of Jerusalem. "Many cardinal issues are on the public agenda, and our body – which is totally based on Torah, even down to its rules and regulations – is naturally geared to deal with them. Issues such as agunot (estranged women whose husbands refuse to give them a divorce), abortions, traffic safety, economic issues, education, and so much more."
"Not only are we commanded to establish the Sanhedrin," Rabbi Richman told Arutz-7's Yosef Meiri, "but this seems to be the perfect time to do so - a time of Divine will. On the one hand, there is a spiritual void in the 'establishment,' and on the other hand, there is a real thirst among the public for spirituality and guidance."
The Sanhedrin's takanon, document of regulations, is still undergoing final adjustments prior to its official adoption. A permanent Nassi, President, and Av Beit HaDin, literally, Court Father, still must be elected. The continuing role of the Vaad HaMechonen , the founding committee that has led the Sanhedrin thus far, also needs to be determined. But the Sanhedrin is carefully moving ahead, strictly adhering to the guidelines set out by Maimonides, who classified the obligation to reestablish the Sanhedrin as one that is incumbent upon every generation.
“The Sanhedrin is past its greatest initial hurdles,” a spokesman told IsraelNN's Ezra HaLevi, “namely, the return of genuine semikha [authentic rabbinical ordination] to Israel, and the historic meeting in Tiberias in Tishrei, at which 71 rabbis actually convened and officially reinstated the Sanhedrin. We believe these achievements are irreversible.”
Contrary to the expected criticism, Sanhedrin organizers insist that the reinstatement ceremony was neither just a show nor a one-time phenomenon, but is rather Halakhically-sound and a true beginning.
The rabbis were asked to prepare topics they thought the Sanhedrin should deal with, and a fascinating array of topics was produced. In addition to those mentioned above by Rabbi Richman, the list included such issues as: * uniform kashrut certification * the precise length of the biblical cubit (with ramifications on many issues, including the location of the altar on the Temple Mount) * unemployment * assisting Anousim from Spain and Portugal and others whose ancestors were forced to convert * lost Jewish tribes from other parts of the world * unifying Sephardic and Ashkenazi practices on issues such as prayer liturgy, kitniyot (legumes) on Passover, and glass utensils * the Sanhedrin's decision-making procedures * foreign workers * unifying the religious parties * restoring the Davidic monarchy * an ethical code for Israel's army (as opposed to the present one, which is based largely on secular sources) * the establishment of regional "small Sanhedrins" * the long-missing "t'chelet" blue color * sending delegations around the country to hear people's concerns, and much more.
Though a lecture on renewing the Paschal offering was delivered at the last meeting, not all of the 71 are yet convinced that the time is ripe for it. Various opinions were put forth, including by those opposed to the renewal of the Passover offering until the exact location of the Temple altar is determined through prophecy.
"The real achievement of the meeting was that rabbis from such diverse backgrounds could sit together to discuss such an issue," said Rabbi Michael S. Bar-Ron, an associate of the Sanhedrin from Beit Shemesh. " It demonstrated that the Sanhedrin is alive, and has begun the long road towards its chief goal of restoring the crown of Torah to its former glory."
As expected, the issue of the disengagement came up, but the acting Nassi refused to allow the discussion until at least one rabbi supporting the plan could be found to present a sincere argument supporting it. No one could be found, and the topic was dropped.
"The Sanhedrin aims to inspire the Jewish people," Rabbi Richman said, "not coerce them. Via 'ways of pleasantness,' we will achieve a renewal of unified Jewish observance and practice."
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Most interesting.
Sanhedrin huh! what about Ciaphus!
There was an earlier thread on this, with a different article, I think a week or two ago.
I have no personal knowledge how to judge this, but some Freepers I respect appeared to take it seriously. These are not just lightweights or kooks by any means.
There's bound to be criticism, not only from some religious Jews but from the secular establishment, since talk of reviving the Temple ceremonies could obviously raise objections from Muslims. I should think the Israeli left would be deeply opposed to anything like this.
Tell that to the secular/atheist Jews in the Knesset. Their greatest opponents will be their own countrymen.
This is crap.
These guys chose themselves.
True. I know many who have been watching such things for years now. Rather many grasp it as such, if they start the practice of sacrifice it sets up another block to allow prophesy to be fulfilled.
If you haven't guessed it by my name, I'm Jewish. That means I don't believe in Christian eschatology. I could care less what your bible says.
Although I hadn't posted directly to you I would point out that what I was referencing is from the Daniel and not the New Testament. Are you discarding the Prophets as well?
Do you believe in/agree with the Twelfth Article of Faith ?
SANHEDRIN
“the great congregation of the priests and people and rulers of the nation and elders of the country” (page 79)
Greek (= ”sitting together”). The fact that a Greek name was applied to the supreme Jewish council is in itself a remarkable testimony to the inroads of Hellenic influence. The precise constitutional position of the Sanhedrin before the reign of Herod is uncertain. (page 94)
The Sanhedrin, formerly the highest Council of state, became reconstituted from members chosen for their erudition rather than for political influence or wealth. At it’s head was subsequently elected Gamaliel, a descendant of the great Hillel… (page 111)
Immediately after the conclusion of it’s sessions, in the following February, the Sanhedrin was convoked to give it’s findings religious sanction. It was fastidiously modeled on its ancient Palestinian prototype. Among it’s seventy-one members (two-thirds of whom were Rabbis and one-third laymen) were representatives of all the provinces of the French Empire, including Italy, Holland, and parts of Germany. David Sinzheim, Rabbi of Strasburg and the most noteworthy scholar of the country, was elected President, or Nasi. (page 343)
- A Short History of the Jewish People
Sanhedrim, -in, n. Highest court of justice & supreme council in ancient Jerusalem, of 71 members. [f.late Heb. sanhedrin f. Gk sunedrion (SYN-, hedra seat)]
The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Current English
Under Jewish law capital punishment was imposed only when the Temple was still in existence, when the offerings were still brought on the altar, and when the Sanhedrin still sat in the Lishkat ha-Gazit, the Chamber of Hewn Stones. (page 67)
One who cursed a nasi, the ruler of the Jewish people or the head of the Sanhedrin, was given a triple flogging: one for having cursed a nasi; another, because cursing a nasi also meant to curse a judge; and a third, because cursing a nasi or a judge also meant cursing a fellow Jew. (page 88)
The Sanhedrin was a High Court composed of 71 of Israel’s greatest scholars of the Law. It served as a guide for the entire people of Israel in matters of religious law. Accordingly, when the Sanhedrin erred (unintentionally), permitting an act which, in fact, was a violation of law that required a sin-offering, the entire Sanhedrin had to bring such an offering. The people who committed the error on the strength of the Sanhedrin’s decision were considered innocent and did not have to bring such an offering. (page 147)
When word reached the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem that this community had gone astray, they immediately dispatched two sages who met with people and warned them against this practice. If the community corrected it’s ways, the city did not become an ir-ha-nidahat. If it persisted, the city was besieged and invaded. There and then, courts of Sanhedrin Ketanah comprising 23 members each, were established and testimony taken concerning those who were accused of idol worship. If it was found that most members of the community had been guilty of this sin, the Sanhedrin Gedolah, the highest court in Jerusalem, had to judge the city. If they condemned it as an ir ha-nidahat, the idol-worshippers and their families were destroyed by the sword. The belongings of the entire community, including those who were innocent, were brought out into the public thoroughfare and burned in a great conflagration. The city itself was leveled to the ground and was never rebuilt. (page 407)
…The great academies of learning and the Sanhedrin were located in Jerusalem. (page 423)
The Mitzvot – Abraham Chill
Read the Jpost article last week suggesting these guys were freaks. I hope that's not true.The J-Post is a considerably more reliable source than Arutz Sheva/INN, which is pretty much the Al-Jazeera of the Israeli radical nationalists. This crew basically wants to replace Israeli democracy with a Jewish version of sharia. Research the role of the "small sanhedrin" and this becomes clear.
-Eric
Bump
The types of the false and true Messiah (Christ) are the kings Saul and David. The first was pleasing to the people, so people have chosen him for a king, the second was pleasing to God so He appointed him when the first king failed.
"Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people."(1 Sam 9:2)
"the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
[...]
Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.
Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward." (1Sam:16:7,12,13)
Not symbolic, but rather a type. Type is a prefiguration, a mystical hint, a loose analogy. So for example Jacob and Esau are type of these who will chose the wordly success or salvation over the spiritual otherwordly blessings. So the Edomites will correspond to the followers of Antichrist who will promise them the wordly kingdom.
Other type is prefiguration of Holy Trinity, when Abraham worships God in Three Persons:
"And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;
And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,
And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant"
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