The Torah Judicial System

The Jerusalem Movement’s Torah judicial system strengthens the standing of the Batei Din for monetary matters, which adjudicate disputes in accordance with Torah law, grants them the authority to summon litigants, and provides them with structured public funding.

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Legal Opinion

“Shoftim v’Shotrim Titen Lecha”

The Torah commands us to appoint judges: “Shoftim v’Shotrim Titen Lecha.” The Jewish people have fulfilled this mitzvah from the days of Moshe and Yisro through the generations, until the time of our own grandparents. Throughout our history, Jewish communities appointed judges and vested them with the authority to resolve disputes and protect the vulnerable, in accordance with the laws of the Torah and within the boundaries permitted by the governing authorities.

We, too, seek to fulfill this mitzvah. Beyond the halachic obligation, explicit in the Shulchan Aruch, to empower judges to adjudicate even without the consent of the litigants, the Torah teaches that our very presence in the Land depends upon it, as it states, “L’ma’an tichyeh v’yarashta et ha’aretz.” As our Sages expound, this teaches that the appointment of judges is worthy of sustaining the life of Israel, settling them upon their land, and shielding them from the sword.

How, then, is this mitzvah fulfilled in our time? The sole path, in accordance with both law and halachah, is through joining the Jerusalem Movement. The membership form contains three essential components:

  1. The designation of a personal Rav, ensuring that your Rav participates in the building of the system.
  2. A legally binding arbitration agreement, stipulating that any dispute between members of the Movement will be resolved within the Torah judicial system, namely before one of the many Batei Din for monetary matters that adjudicate in accordance with Torah law.
  3. A standing membership contribution, reflecting the ongoing legal commitment to the Movement. The financial support of judges is itself part of the mitzvah, as stated explicitly in the Shulchan Aruch: “It is the obligation of Israel to sustain their judges.” Accordingly, the Torah judicial system operates so that litigants receive the service of dispute resolution at no cost, while the remuneration of the judges is drawn from the communal fund, collected regularly from the public at large.