Pisqa’ 15366H:190; JN2:19-20. 1. “And when you reach”(Dt.17:9). Including the court at Yavneh67Yavneh, a coastal town on the Mediterranean, was a major center of rabbinic learning in the latter decades of the first century and the first third of the second century CE. [as the successor of the Sanhedrin68The Yavnean court was not equal in all respects to the ancient Sanhedrin that presided over the Chamber of Carved Stone. For example, it could not administer capital punishment (M. San.11:4). Cf. Pisqa’ 154.1.].
Is it possible to say that in the absence of a Priest or Levite, the court shall be disqualified? The Teaching states: “Or to the justice” (Dt.17:9)— even though there is no Priest or Levite, the court is an appropriate legal venue.
2. “Who shall preside in those days” (Dt.17:9). Said R. Yose the Galilean: Now, can you imagine that you would go to a justice who is not alive in those days? The point is, select a justice who is eminently qualified among his contemporaries. If he had been kin [to the litigants], but then severed the connection [e.g., through death], he is qualified [to sit in judgment of them]. And in this connection, He states: “Do not wonder why the old days were better than today, for such a question does not proceed from wisdom” (Ecc.7:10).69Cf. T. RH. 2:3 and Pisqa’ 190.3.
(דברים יז ט) וּבָאתָ – לְרַבּוֹת בֵּית דִּין שֶׁבְּיַבְנֶה.
Pisqa’ 15366H:190; JN2:19-20.
1. “And when you reach”(Dt.17:9).
Including the court at Yavneh67Yavneh, a coastal town on the Mediterranean, was a major center of rabbinic learning in the latter decades of the first century and the first third of the second century CE.
[as the successor of the Sanhedrin68The Yavnean court was not equal in all respects to the ancient Sanhedrin that presided over the Chamber of Carved Stone. For example, it could not administer capital punishment (M. San.11:4). Cf. Pisqa’ 154.1.].
אֶל הַכֹּהֲנִים הַלְוִיִּם, מִצְוָה בְּבֵית דִּין שֶׁיִּהְיוּ בוֹ כֹּהֲנִים וּלְוִיִּם.
“The levitical Priest” (Dt.17:9)—
it is a requirement that the court
include Priests and Levites.
יָכוֹל מִצְוָה, וְאִם אֵין בּוֹ יְהֵא פָסוּל? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: וְאֶל הַשֹּׁפֵט – אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵין בּוֹ כֹּהֲנִים וּלְוִיִּם כָּשֵׁר.
Is it possible to say that
in the absence of a Priest or Levite,
the court shall be disqualified?
The Teaching states:
“Or to the justice” (Dt.17:9)—
even though there is no Priest or Levite,
the court is an appropriate legal venue.
אֲשֶׁר יִהְיֶה בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם, אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹסֵי הַגְּלִילִי: וְכִי עָלָת עַל דַּעְתְּךָ שֶׁתֵּלֵךְ אֵצֶל שׁוֹפֵט שֶׁאֵינוֹ בְּיָמֶיךָ? אֶלָּא שׁוֹפֵט שֶׁהוּא כָּשֵׁר וּמֻחְזָק בְּאוֹתָם הַיָּמִים. הָיָה קָרוֹב וְנִתְרַחֵק – כָּשֵׁר, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (קהלת ז י): ״אַל תֹּאמַר מֶה הָיָה שֶׁהַיָּמִים הָרִאשׁוֹנִים הָיוּ טוֹבִים מֵאֵלֶּה כִּי לֹא מֵחָכְמָה שָׁאַלְתָּ עַל זֶה״.
2. “Who shall preside in those days” (Dt.17:9).
Said R. Yose the Galilean:
Now, can you imagine that
you would go to a justice
who is not alive in those days?
The point is, select a justice
who is eminently qualified
among his contemporaries.
If he had been kin [to the litigants],
but then severed the connection [e.g., through death],
he is qualified [to sit in judgment of them].
And in this connection,
He states:
“Do not wonder why the old days were better than today,
for such a question does not proceed from wisdom” (Ecc.7:10).69Cf. T. RH. 2:3 and Pisqa’ 190.3.
וְדָרַשְׁתָּ וְהִגִּידוּ לְךָ אֵת דְּבַר הַמִּשְׁפָּט – אֵלּוּ דִּקְדּוּקֵי מִשְׁפָּט.
“And you shall inquire, and they shall declare to you
the word of judgment” (Dt.17:9)—
in accord with every detail of legal procedure.