Posted on 10/13/2004 12:56:00 PM PDT by yonif
A unique ceremony - probably only the second of its kind in the past 1,600 years - is taking place in Tiberias today: The launching of a Sanhedrin, the highest Jewish-legal tribunal in the Land of Israel.
The Sanhedrin, a religious assembly that convened in one of the Holy Temple chambers in Jerusalem, comprised 71 sages and existed during the Tannaitic period, from several decades before the Common Era until roughly 425 C.E. Details of today's ceremony are still sketchy, but the organizers' announced their intention to convene 71 rabbis who have received special rabbinic ordination as specified by Maimonides.
An attempt to reconvene the Sanhedrin was made several centuries ago in Tzfat. The body in fact ordained such greats as Rabbi Yosef Karo, the author of the classic Jewish Law code Shulhan Arukh. However, the opposition of other leading rabbis soon forced the end of the endeavor.
One of the leaders of today's attempt to revive the Sanhedrin is Rabbi Yeshai Ba'avad of Beit El. He said that the 71 rabbis "from across the spectrum received the special ordination, in accordance with Maimonides' rulings, over the past several months." Rabbi Ba'avad explained that the membership of the new body is not permanent: "What is much more crucial is the establishment of this body. Those who are members of it today will not necessarily be its members tomorrow. But the goal is to have one rabbinic body in Jerusalem that will convene monthly and issue rulings on central issues. This is the need of the generation and of the hour."
Rabbi Yisrael Ariel, who heads the Temple institute in Jerusalem, is one of the participating rabbis. He told Arutz-7 today, "Whether this will be the actual Sanhedrin that we await, is a question of time - just like the establishment of the State; we rejoiced in it, but we are still awaiting something much more ideal. It's a process. Today's ceremony is really the continuation of the renewal of the Ordination process in Israel, which we marked several months ago. Our Talmudic Sages describe the ten stages of exile of the Sanhedrin from Jerusalem to other locations, until it ended in Tiberias - and this is the place where it was foretold that it would be renewed, and from here it will be relocated to Jerusalem."
Rabbi Ariel said that the rabbis there included many from the entire spectrum: "Hareidi, religious-Zionist, Sephardi, Ashkenazi, hassidi, and many others - such as Rabbi Yoel Schwartz, Rabbi Adin Shteinzaltz, and many others... We can't expect a great consensus; that's not how things work here. But sometimes that's how the process goes, from the bottom up."
Ping.
If he is involved, then this is a serious organization, not just a stunt.
RE-BUILD THE TEMPLE!........
I'm not Jewish, but I am rabidly pro-Israel. More power to them.
Though I would not be averse to dismantling the Al-Aqsa mosque and reassembling it in Texas as a BBQ palace.
"Omar's Rib Shack" or something. They could sell t-shirts.
Might they eventually take on Hollywood?
BBQ PORK A SPECIALTY! mmmmmmm Those BABY BACK RIBS!!!!!
Good for them! Israel has been becoming secular to please the irreligious Hollywood & New York liberal Jews. Good to see real Jews embracing Judaism and rejecting liberal secularism.
Hell, put one Jew in a room alone and you'll have non-consensus.
End times prophecy bump!
Plans for the rebuilding of the temple were completed some time ago. The 'stuff' and utensils needed, have been designed and made, the 'red' calf has been chosen and bred...Texas cow, no less...
A knowledge of end times prophecy, and a look at current events might get a person to thinkin'...
Dittos, but remember that it was the Sanhedren that convicted Christ.
Uh . . .
Rebuild Temple = good idea.
Pork ribs = bad idea
Just my opinion of course.
Just so long as "across the spectrum" doesn't include heretical movements that deny that the Torah was written by G-d and is immutable, this sounds like a step in the right direction (but of course it is ultimately for the Sages to decide).
Two Jews = Three Opinions
Here in The South, that would be a sacrilege! The War for Southern Independence was fought for BBQ Ribs!......
I just posted this in the religion thread, after not seeing it posted.
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