Reestablished Sanhedrin Ascend Temple Mount

[cmotherofpirl]

Members of Reestablished Sanhedrin Ascend Temple Mount
Wednesday, December 8, 2004 / 25 Kislev 5765

In a dramatic but unpublicized move, members of the newly established Sanhedrin ascended the Temple Mount, Judaism’s holiest site, this past Monday.

Close to 50 recently ordained s'muchim, members of the Sanhedrin, lined up at the foot of the Temple Mount Monday morning. [The word s'muchim comes from the same root as s'michah, , rabbinic ordination.] The men, many ascending the Temple Mount for the first time, had immersed in mikvaot (ritual baths) that morning, and planned to ascend as a group. Despite prior approval from the Israeli police who oversee entry to the Mount, the officers barred the group from entering the Mount all together, and allowed them to visit only in groups of ten.


Given the newly-mandated restrictive conditions, many of the s'muchim refused to ascend at all, especially as a group of over 100 non-Jewish tourists filed past the waiting rabbis and up towards the holy site. “It is unconscionable that on the eve of Chanukah, which celebrates the rededication of the Holy Temple, we should once again be barred from worshipping – by our own people,” Rabbi Chaim Richman of Jerusalem’s Temple Institute told IsraelNN’s Ezra HaLevi.


The Sanhedrin, a religious-legal assembly of 71 sages that convened during the Holy Temple period and for several centuries afterwards, was the highest Jewish judicial tribunal in the Land of Israel. The great court used to convene in one of the Temple’s chambers in Jerusalem.

This past October, the Sanhedrin was reestablished for the first time in 1,600 years, at the site of its last meeting in Tiberias.

“There is a special mitzvah [commandment], not connected to time, but tied to our presence in Israel, to establish a Sanhedrin,” Rabbi Meir HaLevi, one of the 71 members of the new Sanhedrin, told Israel National Radio’s Weekend Edition. “The Rambam [12th-century Torah scholar Maimonides] describes the process exactly in the Mishna 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. When there is a majority of rabbis, in Israel, who authorize one person to be a samuch, , an authority, he can then reestablish the Sanhedrin.”

Those behind the revival of the Sanhedrin stress that the revival of the legal body is not optional, but mandated by the Torah. “We don’t have a choice,” says Rabbi Richman. “It is a religious mandate for us to establish a Sanhedrin.”

The Sanhedrin was reestablished through the ordination of one rabbi agreed upon by many prominent rabbis in Israel and approved as “fitting to serve” by former Chief Sefardi Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef and leading Ashkenazi Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv. That rabbi, who is then considered to have received authentic ordination as handed down from Moses, was then able to give ordination to 70 others, making up the quorum of 71 necessary for the Sanhedrin.

“Even Mordechai HaYehudi of the Purim story was accepted, as it is written, only ‘by the majority of his brethren,’ and not by everybody," Rabbi HaLevi explained. "Anyone who deals with public issues can not be unanimously accepted.”

The rabbis behind the Sanhedrin’s reconstitution claim that, like the State of Israel, the old-new Sanhedrin is a work-in-progress. They see it as a vessel that, once established, will reach the stature and authority that it once had.


“The first members requested that their names not be published, so as to allow it to grow without public criticism of individuals,” HaLevi said. “We want to give it time to develop and strengthen the institution, giving a chance for more rabbis to join.” He added that each of the current members of the Sanhedrin has agreed to be a conditional member until a more knowledgeable rabbi joins, taking his place.

Rabbi Richman, also a member of the Sanhedrin, hopes the body will bring about a revolution in Jewish jurisprudence. Declining to discuss exactly what issues are on the Sanhedrin’s agenda, Richman said that one of the main long-term goals of the Sanhedrin is to reunify Jewish observance in Israel. The Sanhedrin includes members of Ashkenazi, Sefardi, Hasidic, National-Religious and Hareidi communities.

“We Jews went into exiles all over the world,” Rabbi HaLevi said. “Every community established its own court. We are talking about more than 50 different legal systems developing separately from one another. Part of our return to Israel is the reunification of our Jewish practices.”


A tradition is recorded in the Talmud (Tractate Megillah 17b, Rashi) that the Sanhedrin will be restored after a partial ingathering of the Jewish exiles, but before Jerusalem is completely rebuilt and restored. Another Talmudic tradition (Eruvin 43b; Maharatz Chajas ad loc; Rashash to Sanhedrin 13b) states that Elijah the Prophet will present himself before a duly-ordained Sanhedrin when he announces the coming of the Messiah. This indicates that despite common misconceptions, a Sanhedrin is a pre-, not post-messianic institution.

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[Mary's Knight, La]

Our older cousins, or perhaps in the spirit of the gospels I should call them brothers are interesting.

[Phatmasser777]

This should be interesting if Elijah does show.

[Robbi]

I did read those series of left behind books on revelations (sadly enough) , and it was written in one of the books that there will be 2 witnesses in sack cloth - and one of them was Elijah.

Maybe it will be Elijah that will be a witness - to Christs second coming?
-_-
OK - I didnt think so either!!

[Mateo el Feo]

[quote]He added that each of the current members of the Sanhedrin has agreed to be a conditional member until a more knowledgeable rabbi joins, taking his place.[/quote]

Translation: This is just a bunch of obscure rabbis with no real authority.

[james]

There is a similar movement happening in this country as well.

________________

The U.S. Congress officially recognized the Noahide laws in legislation, which was passed by both houses of Congress and the President of the United States, George Bush, indicated in public law 102-14, 102nd congress, that the United States of America was founded upon the Seven Universal Laws of Noah, and that these laws have been the bedrock of society from the dawn of civilization.

They also acknowledged that the seven laws of Noah are the foundation upon which civilization stands and that recent weakening of these principles threaten the fabric of civilized society, and that justified preoccupation in educating the citizens of the United States of America and future generations is needed. For this purpose, this public law designated March 26, 1991 as "Education Day, U.S.A."

Further President Ronald Reagan pursuant to House Joint Resolution 186, proclaimed Tuesday, April 2, 1985, as Education Day, U.S.A. advocating that the American people observe the Jewish Noahide Laws. Again on April 19, 1986, in accordance with Proclamation 5463 –Education Day, U.S.A., 1986, President Ronald Reagan, proclaimed Sunday, April 20, 1986 as Education day, U.S.A. advocating the observance of the Seven Noahide Laws by the American people.

[url="http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/resource/speeches/1986/41986b.htm"]http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/resource/spee...1986/41986b.htm[/url]

On April 18, 1978, President Carter signed into law Education Day, U.S.A.

[url="http://www.chabadnews.us/Old%20Aricles/AT%2000026.htm"]http://www.chabadnews.us/Old%20Aricles/AT%2000026.htm[/url]

President, William J. Clinton proclaimed March 28, 2000, as Education and Sharing Day, U.S.A., 2000, advocating that the American people observe the Seven Noahide Laws.

[url="http://clinton4.nara.gov/WH/New/html/20000324.html"]http://clinton4.nara.gov/WH/New/html/20000324.html[/url]

Bush, current President of the United States, proclaimed April 13, 2003 as Education and Sharing Day, U.S.A. and ascribed the Seven Noahide Laws for the Nation.

[url="http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/04/20030411-2.html"]http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/20...20030411-2.html[/url]

Indeed for the past 19, years the previous Presidents of the United States have made similar Proclamation.

[url="http://www.ukar.org/gore10.html"]http://www.ukar.org/gore10.html[/url]

[url="http://www.noahide.com/rebbe.htm"]http://www.noahide.com/rebbe.htm[/url]

Edited December 10, 2004 by james

[james]

[b]Jewish law institute launched in DC[/b]
By Janine Zacharia
The Jerusalem Post Nov. 9, 2002

Jewish legal experts have created a new institute that will educate jurists and others about 2,000 years of Jewish law and promote the application of the teachings to contemporary legal disputes and other modern-day issues.

The launch of the Washington-based National Institute for Judaic Law was marked Tuesday night with a kosher dinner at the Supreme Court attended by 200 people, including three Supreme Court Justices - Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Stephen Breyer, and Antonin Scalia.

US President George W. Bush sent greetings and applauded the institute for promoting an "understanding of Judaism's rich tradition of legal thought."

"As we face new challenges and welcome new opportunities, our society must continue to promote good character and strong values. Through the study and teaching of Jewish law and philosophy you are contributing to a growing culture of service, citizenship, and responsibility in America," Bush wrote.

Scalia, in a letter to the institute's founder, Noson Gurary, wrote that "Jewish law is certainly one of the oldest and most highly developed systems" and explained why the comparative study of legal traditions was beneficial.

"The idea is to make Jewish law more accessible to everyone," said Washington lawyer Alyza Lewin. Both Lewin and her father Nathan Lewin are helping establish the institute.

Last year, Alyza Lewin filed a brief to the Supreme Court based on the Talmud's take on capital punishment when the court was readying to hear a case on the constitutionality of the electric chair.

"Legal scholars often like to know what other legal traditions have said about certain issues," said Alyza Lewin. Filing that kind of opinion is only part of the institute's mandate. It will also promote the teaching of Jewish law, develop curricula on Jewish law that can be integrated into traditional law school courses, and serve as a resource for anyone wanting to know what the vast Jewish legal tradition has to say on various issues.

The institute's first project, already underway, explores how Jewish law can be applied to modern-day issues surrounding corporate ethics, an idea spurred by the recent corporate scandals involving Enron and Worldcom.

Gurary, who teaches at the State University of New York at Buffalo, thought up the idea of the institute about nine months ago. "By demonstrating the philosophy of Jewish law and its moral values, we can bring a little beacon of light in this world," Gurary said. "I think this is what we need now, in this day and age."

Edited December 10, 2004 by james

[cmotherofpirl]

What is the point you are trying to make?

[Phatmasser777]

[quote name='Robbi' date='Dec 10 2004, 12:29 AM'] I did read those series of left behind books on revelations (sadly enough) , and it was written in one of the books that there will be 2 witnesses in sack cloth - and one of them was Elijah.

Maybe it will be Elijah that will be a witness - to Christs second coming?
-_-
OK - I didnt think so either!! [/quote]
[u]FIRST[/u]

[Phatmasser777]

Wow. I feel sorry for the Non-Jews/Christians having religious laws forced upon them.

[quote]"civilized society"[/quote]

Well that rules out..the US, Britain, France, Germany..oh just about all the Western nations

[james]

"Another important consideration is the tradition that the Bais Ha Mikdash or Holy Temple will be rebuilt before the onset of the Messianic Age. However, there is also a tradition that Jerusalem cannot be rebuilt before the ingathering of the diaspora. This would also seem to indicate that Israel will be settled before the messianic age. However, it is possible that the Messiah himself will accomplish these things before he is recognized for who he is ... It is just possible that all Jewish leaders would agree to name him their leader and confer upon him the Mosaic ordination. The chain of this ordination was broken some sixteen hundred years ago and must be renewed before the Sanhedrin ... can be re-established. This is a necessary condition for the rebuilding of the Temple ... Such a Sanhedrin would also be able to formally recognize the Messiah." Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan, [i]The Real Messiah? A Jewish Response to Missionaries [/i]pp. 91-93

[popestpiusx]

Sanhedrin, shmanhedrin. All they are doing is trying to put a pretty face on Zionism. And as to that, I will simply repeat the words of that most holy of popes, St. Pius X, when asked by a leader of the Zionist movement if he would recognize the state of Israel as a sovereign nation should the Zionists be successful, the Pope responded, "I shall recognize the state of Israel as a sovereign nation when the state of Israel recognizes Jesus Christ as Sovereign King.

[james]

Little is being made of the fact that the above mentioned Sanhedrin is a re-establishment of the Sanhedrin that condemned our Lord to death. The temple which so many seek to rebuild is the temple which our Lord prophesied would be destroyed.

The destruction of the temple and ensuing Diaspora of the Jews have always been acknowledged as punishment for the apostasy which Christ repeatedly condemned in the Gospels--the tradition of the elders which makes God's law of none effect.

This tradition is still kept today. It's the tradition of those who seek to rebuild what God has destroyed as punishment. I dare say this doesn't have God's blessing.

It is remarkable to witness the incredible amount of nominal "Christians" who support these things.

[popestpiusx]

No, it is an attempted re-creation of that same Sanhedrin. However, Judaism, as it existed in the time of Christ, no longer exists. Todays version is a fabrication. Many prots are all for this carp. It makes sense. They are also members of fabricated religions.

[james]

"Pharisaism became Talmudism...the spirit of the ancient Pharisee survives unaltered. When the Jew studies the Talmud, he is actually repeating arguments used in the Palestinian academies...

"The Jewish religion as it is today traces its descent without a break, through all the centuries, from the Pharisees." Universal Jewish Encyclopedia