Translation:

House of Judgment

Definition:

The religious court consisting of a minimum of three learned individuals, customarily rabbis. This court of rabbis makes decisions on halakhic (Jewish legal) matters. The two most common matters that come before the Reform Beit Din are conversion and divorce. In some Orthodox communities, the Beit Din might deal with civil matters as well as matters strictly religious.

“The Reform Beit Din was established formally on 1st February 1948 and since then has served all communities belonging to the [Movement for Reform Judaism]. It has its seat at the Sternberg Centre for Judaism, the headquarters of the [Movement for Reform Judaism] in North London.” The Av Beit Din of the Reform Beit Din, often referred to as the convener, is Rabbi Rodney Mariner. The member rabbis of the Assembly of Reform Rabbis UK sit on the Beit Din on a rotating basis.

Sources:

The current Beit Din structure is based on the smallest court set up in the Mishnah, tractate Sanhedrin 1:1-6. This court was originally meant for small villages with less than 120 people and was the smallest court to pass binding decisions.Faith and Practice: A Guide to Reform Judaism Today by Rabbi Jonathan Romain

Related Items: