The Sanhedrin and the Penalties within Their Jurisdiction Chapter 2

אֵין מַעֲמִידִין בְּסַנְהֶדְרִין בֵּין בִּגְדוֹלָה בֵּין בִּקְטַנָּה אֶלָּא אֲנָשִׁים חֲכָמִים וּנְבוֹנִים. מֻפְלָגִין בְּחָכְמַת הַתּוֹרָה בַּעֲלֵי דֵּעָה מְרֻבָּה. יוֹדְעִים קְצָת מִשְּׁאָר חָכְמוֹת כְּגוֹן רְפוּאוֹת וְחֶשְׁבּוֹן וּתְקוּפוֹת וּמַזָּלוֹת וְאִצְטַגְנִינוּת וְדַרְכֵי הַמְעוֹנְנִים וְהַקּוֹסְמִים וְהַמְכַשְּׁפִים וְהַבְלֵי עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה וְכַיּוֹצֵא בְּאֵלּוּ כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּהְיוּ יוֹדְעִים לָדוּן אוֹתָם. וְאֵין מַעֲמִידִין בְּסַנְהֶדְרִין אֶלָּא כֹּהֲנִים לְוִיִּים וְיִשְׂרְאֵלִים הַמְיֻחָסִים הָרְאוּיִים לְהַשִּׂיא לִכְהֻנָּה. שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר יא טז) "וְהִתְיַצְּבוּ שָׁם עִמָּךְ" בְּדוֹמִין לְךָ בְּחָכְמָה וּבְיִרְאָה וּבְיַחַס:

We appoint to a Sanhedrin - both to the Supreme Sanhedrin and to a minor Sanhedrin - only men of wisdom and understanding, of unique distinction in their knowledge of the Torah and who possess a broad intellectual potential. They should also have some knowledge concerning other intellectual disciplines, e.g., medicine, mathematics, the fixation of the calendar, astronomy, astrology, and also the practices of fortune-telling, magic, sorcery, and the hollow teachings of idolatry, so that they will know how to judge them. We appoint to the Sanhedrin only priests, Levites, and Israelites of lineage of fine repute who can marry into the priesthood. This is derived from Number 11:16: "And they shall stand there with you." Implied is that they should resemble you, Moses in wisdom, the fear of heaven, and in lineage.

וּמִצְוָה לִהְיוֹת בְּסַנְהֶדְרִין גְּדוֹלָה כֹּהֲנִים וּלְוִיִּים שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים יז ט) "וּבָאתָ אֶל הַכֹּהֲנִים הַלְוִיִּם". וְאִם לֹא מָצְאוּ אֲפִלּוּ הָיוּ כֻּלָּם יִשְׂרְאֵלִים הֲרֵי זֶה מֻתָּר:

It is a mitzvah to have priests and Levites included in the Great Sanhedrin, as it is said: "You shall come before the priests and Levites." (Deut 17:9). And if none can be found, it is permissible to have a court of exclusively Israelite judges.

אֵין מַעֲמִידִין בְּכָל הַסַּנְהֶדְרִין לֹא זָקֵן מֻפְלָג בְּשָׁנִים וְלֹא סָרִיס מִפְּנֵי שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהֶן אַכְזָרִיּוּת. וְלֹא מִי שֶׁאֵין לוֹ בָּנִים כְּדֵי שֶׁיְּהֵא רַחֲמָן:

We should not appoint to a Sanhedrin a man of very old age or one who does not possess male physical attributes, for they possess the trait of cruelty, nor a man who is childless, so that the judges should be merciful.

ואֵין מוֹשִׁיבִין מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּסַנְהֶדְרִין שֶׁאָסוּר לַחְלֹק עָלָיו וְלַמְרוֹת אֶת דְּבָרוֹ. אֲבָל מוֹשִׁיבִין כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל אִם הָיָה רָאוּי בְּחָכְמָה:

A king of Israel may not be included in the Sanhedrin, for we are forbidden to disagree with him and repudiate his words. The High Priest, by contrast, may be included in the Sanhedrin if his knowledge makes him fitting.

מַלְכֵי בֵּית דָּוִד אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵין מוֹשִׁיבִין אוֹתָם בְּסַנְהֶדְרִין יוֹשְׁבִין וְדָנִים הֵם אֶת הָעָם. וְדָנִים אוֹתָם אִם יֵשׁ עֲלֵיהֶן דִּין. אֲבָל מַלְכֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֵין דָּנִין וְאֵין דָּנִין אוֹתָם לְפִי שֶׁאֵין נִכְנָעִים לְדִבְרֵי תּוֹרָה שֶׁמָּא תָּבוֹא מֵהֶן תַּקָּלָה:

Although the kings of the House of David may not be included in the Sanhedrin, they may sit in judgment over the people. Conversely, they may be called to judgment if a person has a complaint against them. The Kings of Israel, by contrast, may not serve as judges, nor may they be called to judgment. The rationale is that they do not humble themselves before the words of the Torah, and letting them serve as a judge or issuing a judgment against them may lead to a disaster.

כְּשֵׁם שֶׁבֵּית דִּין מְנֻקִּין בְּצֶדֶק כָּךְ צְרִיכִין לִהְיוֹת מְנֻקִּין מִכָּל מוּמֵי הַגּוּף. וְצָרִיךְ לְהִשְׁתַּדֵּל וְלִבְדֹּק וּלְחַפֵּשׂ שֶׁיִּהְיוּ כֻּלָּן בַּעֲלֵי שֵׂיבָה. בַּעֲלֵי קוֹמָה. בַּעֲלֵי מַרְאֶה. נְבוֹנֵי לַחַשׁ. וְשֶׁיֵּדְעוּ בְּרֹב הַלְּשׁוֹנוֹת כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא תְּהֵא סַנְהֶדְרִין שׁוֹמַעַת מִפִּי הַתֻּרְגְּמָן:

Just as the judges of a court must be on the highest level of righteousness; so, too, must they be unsullied by any physical blemishes. An effort should be made that they all be white-haired, of impressive height, of dignified appearance, men who understand whispered matters, who understand many different languages so that the Sanhedrin will not need to hear testimony from an interpreter.

בֵּית דִּין שֶׁל שְׁלֹשָׁה אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵין מְדַקְדְּקִין בָּהֶן בְּכָל אֵלּוּ הַדְּבָרִים צָרִיךְ שֶׁיְּהֵא בְּכָל אֶחָד מֵהֶן שִׁבְעָה דְּבָרִים וְאֵלּוּ הֵן. חָכְמָה. וַעֲנָוָה. וְיִרְאָה. וְשִׂנְאַת מָמוֹן. וְאַהֲבַת הָאֱמֶת. וְאַהֲבַת הַבְּרִיּוֹת לָהֶן. וּבַעֲלֵי שֵׁם טוֹב. וְכָל אֵלּוּ הַדְּבָרִים מְפֹרָשִׁין הֵן בַּתּוֹרָה. הֲרֵי הוּא אוֹמֵר (דברים א יג) "אֲנָשִׁים חֲכָמִים וּנְבֹנִים" הֲרֵי בַּעֲלֵי חָכְמָה אָמוּר. (דברים א יג) "וִידֻעִים לְשִׁבְטֵיכֶם" אֵלּוּ שֶׁרוּחַ הַבְּרִיּוֹת נוֹחָה מֵהֶם. וּבַמֶּה יִהְיוּ אֲהוּבִים לַבְּרִיּוֹת בִּזְמַן שֶׁיִּהְיוּ בַּעֲלֵי עַיִן טוֹבָה. וְנֶפֶשׁ שְׁפָלָה. וְחֶבְרָתָן טוֹבָה. וְדִבּוּרָן וּמַשָּׂאָן בְּנַחַת עִם הַבְּרִיּוֹת. וּלְהַלָּן הוּא אוֹמֵר (שמות יח כא) "אַנְשֵׁי חַיִל" אֵלּוּ שֶׁהֵן גִּבּוֹרִים בְּמִצְוֹת וּמְדַקְדְּקִים עַל עַצְמָם וְכוֹבְשִׁין אֶת יִצְרָן עַד שֶׁלֹּא יְהֵא לָהֶן שׁוּם גְּנַאי וְלֹא שֵׁם רַע וִיהֵא פִּרְקָן נָאֶה. וּבִכְלַל אַנְשֵׁי חַיִל שֶׁיִּהְיֶה לָהֶן לֵב אַמִּיץ לְהַצִּיל עָשׁוּק מִיַּד עוֹשְׁקוֹ כָּעִנְיָן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות ב יז) "וַיָּקָם משֶׁה וַיּוֹשִׁעָן". וּמָה משֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ עָנָו אַף כָּל דַּיָּן צָרִיךְ לִהְיוֹת עָנָו. (שמות יח כא) "יִרְאֵי אֱלֹהִים" כְּמַשְׁמָעוֹ. (שמות יח כא) "שֹׂנְאֵי בָצַע" אַף מָמוֹן שֶׁלָּהֶם אֵינָן נִבְהָלִין עָלָיו. וְלֹא רוֹדְפִין לְקַבֵּץ הַמָּמוֹן. שֶׁכָּל מִי שֶׁהוּא נִבְהָל לַהוֹן חֶסֶר יְבוֹאֶנּוּ. (שמות יח כא) "אַנְשֵׁי אֱמֶת" שֶׁיִּהְיוּ רוֹדְפִין אַחַר הַצֶּדֶק מֵחֲמַת עַצְמָן בְּדַעְתָּן. אוֹהֲבִין אֶת הָאֱמֶת וְשׂוֹנְאִין אֶת הֶחָמָס וּבוֹרְחִין מִכָּל מִינֵי הֶעָוֶל:

We are not careful to demand that a judge for a court of three possess all these qualities. He must, however, possess seven attributes: wisdom, humility, the fear of G-d, a loathing for money, a love for truth; he must be a person who is beloved by people at large, and must have a good reputation. All of these qualities are mentioned explicitly in the Torah. When relating Moses' statements concerning the appointment of judges, Deuteronomy 1:13 mentions: "Men of wisdom and understanding." This refers to wisdom. The verse continues: "Beloved by your tribes." This refers to those who are appreciated by people at large. What will make them beloved by people? Conducting themselves with a favorable eye and a humble spirit, being good company, and speaking and conducting their business with people gently. When relating Jethro's advice to Moses to appoint judges, Exodus 18:21 speaks of "men of power." This refers to people who are mighty in their observance of the mitzvot, who are very demanding of themselves, and who overcome their evil inclination until they possess no unfavorable qualities, no trace of an unpleasant reputation, even during their early manhood, they were spoken of highly. The phrase "men of power" also implies that they should have a courageous heart to save an oppressed person from the one oppressing him, as Exodus 18:21 continues: "G-d-fearing" - the intent is obvious. It mentions: "men who hate profit," i.e., people who do not become overly concerned even about their own money. They do not pursue the accumulation of money, for anyone who is overly concerned about wealth will ultimately be overcome by want. The verse continues: "men of truth," i.e., people who pursue justice because of their own inclination; they love truth, hate crime, and flee from all forms of crookedness.

אָמְרוּ חֲכָמִים שֶׁמִּבֵּית דִּין הַגָּדוֹל הָיוּ שׁוֹלְחִים בְּכָל אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל וּבוֹדְקִין כָּל מִי שֶׁיִּמְצָאוּהוּ חָכָם וִירֵא חָטָא וְעָנָו וְשָׁפוּי וּפִרְקוֹ נָאֶה וְרוּחַ הַבְּרִיּוֹת נוֹחָה הֵימֶנּוּ. עוֹשִׂין אוֹתוֹ דַּיָּן בְּעִירוֹ. וּמִשָּׁם מַעֲלִין אוֹתוֹ לְפֶתַח הַר הַבַּיִת וּמִשָּׁם מַעֲלִין אוֹתוֹ לְפֶתַח הָעֲזָרָה. וּמִשָּׁם מַעֲלִין אוֹתוֹ לְבֵית דִּין הַגָּדוֹל:

Our Sages relate: From the Supreme Sanhedrin, they would send emissaries throughout the entire land of Israel to seek out judges. Whenever they found a person who was wise, sin-fearing, humble, modest, with a good reputation, and beloved by people at large, they have him appointed as a judge in his own city. From there, they promote him to the court which holds sessions at the entrance to the Temple Mount. From there, he is promoted to the court which holds sessions at the entrance to the Temple Courtyard, and from there, to the Supreme Sanhedrin.

בֵּית דִּין שֶׁל שְׁלֹשָׁה שֶׁהָיָה אֶחָד מֵהֶן גֵּר הֲרֵי זֶה פָּסוּל. עַד שֶׁתִּהְיֶה אִמּוֹ מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל. הָיָה אֶחָד מַמְזֵר אֲפִלּוּ שְׁלָשְׁתָּן מַמְזֵרִים הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ כְּשֵׁרִין לָדוּן. וְכֵן אִם הָיָה כָּל אֶחָד מֵהֶם סוּמָא בְּאֶחָד מֵעֵינָיו כָּשֵׁר מַה שֶּׁאֵין כֵּן בְּסַנְהֶדְרִין. אֲבָל הַסּוּמָא בִּשְׁתֵּי עֵינָיו פָּסוּל לַכּל:

When one of the judges of a court of three is a convert, the court is disqualified. His mother must be a native-born Jewess. If, by contrast, one of the judges is a mamzer, even if all three of them are mamzerim, they are acceptable to pass judgment. Similarly, if all of the members of a court of three were blind in one eye, it is acceptable. This does not apply with regard to a Sanhedrin. If, however, a judge is blind in both eyes, he is unacceptable to serve on all courts.

אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵין בֵּית דִּין פָּחוֹת מִשְּׁלֹשָׁה מֻתָּר לְאֶחָד לָדוּן מִן הַתּוֹרָה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא יט טו) "בְּצֶדֶק תִּשְׁפֹּט עֲמִיתֶךָ". וּמִדִּבְרֵי סוֹפְרִים עַד שֶׁיִּהְיוּ שְׁלֹשָׁה. וּשְׁנַיִם שֶׁדָּנוּ אֵין דִּינֵיהֶן דִּין:

Although a court requires no less than three judges, it is permissible for one judge to adjudicate a case according to Scriptural Law, as Leviticus 19:15 states: "Judge your fellow countryman with righteousness." According to Rabbinic Law, however, there should be three judges. When two judges adjudicate a case, their ruling is not binding.

אֶחָד שֶׁהָיָה מֻמְחֶה לָרַבִּים אוֹ שֶׁנָּטַל רְשׁוּת מִבֵּית דִּין הֲרֵי זֶה מֻתָּר לוֹ לָדוּן יְחִידִי אֲבָל אֵינוֹ חָשׁוּב בֵּית דִּין. וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהוּא מֻתָּר מִצְוַת חֲכָמִים הוּא שֶׁמּוֹשִׁיב עִמּוֹ אֲחֵרִים שֶׁהֲרֵי אָמְרוּ אַל תְּהִי דָּן יְחִידִי שֶׁאֵין דָּן יְחִידִי אֶלָּא אֶחָד:

When a judge is an expert and he is known by many to possess such knowledge or if he was granted permission by the court, he may adjudicate a case alone. Nevertheless, he is not considered as a court. Even though it is permitted for such a person to issue judgments alone, it is a mitzvah from the Sages for him to have others sit in judgment with him, for our Sages said: "Do not act as a judge alone, for there is only One who judges alone."

יֵשׁ לְאָדָם לַעֲשׂוֹת דִּין לְעַצְמוֹ אִם יֵשׁ בְּיָדוֹ כֹּחַ הוֹאִיל וְכַדָּת וְכַהֲלָכָה הוּא עוֹשֶׂה אֵינוֹ חַיָּב לִטְרֹחַ וְלָבוֹא לְבֵית דִּין אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹּא הָיָה שָׁם הֶפְסֵד בִּנְכָסָיו אִלּוּ נִתְאַחֵר וּבָא לְבֵית דִּין. לְפִיכָךְ אִם קִבֵּל עָלָיו בַּעַל דִּינוֹ וֶהֱבִיאוֹ לְבֵית דִּין וְדָרְשׁוּ וּמָצְאוּ שֶׁעָשָׂה כַּהֲלָכָה וְדִין אֱמֶת דָּן לְעַצְמוֹ אֵין סוֹתְרִין אֶת דִּינוֹ:

A person may execute judgment himself if he has the power to do so. If he acts according to the dictates of our faith and according to law, he is not obligated to take the trouble to come to the court. This applies even if he would not suffer any financial loss if he would delay and bring the matter to the court. Consequently, should the other litigant lodge a complaint against him and bring him to court, if the court investigates and discovers that he acted according to law, i.e., the decision which he arrived at was true, we do not abrogate his decision.

אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁבֵּית דִּין שֶׁל שְׁלֹשָׁה בֵּית דִּין שָׁלֵם הוּא כָּל זְמַן שֶׁהֵן רַבִּים הֲרֵי זֶה מְשֻׁבָּח. וּמוּטָב שֶׁיֵּחָתֵךְ הַדִּין בְּאַחַד עָשָׂר יוֹתֵר מֵעֲשָׂרָה וּצְרִיכִין שֶׁיִּהְיוּ הַיּוֹשְׁבִים כֻּלָּם שָׁם בְּבֵית דִּין תַּלְמִידֵי חֲכָמִים וּרְאוּיִין:

Although a court of three is considered as a complete entity, whenever there are more judges, it is praiseworthy. It is preferable to make a decision with 11 judges than with ten. All the judges who sit in court must be Torah scholars and of appropriate character.

וְאָסוּר לְאָדָם חָכָם שֶׁיֵּשֵׁב בַּדִּין עַד שֶׁיֵּדַע עִם מִי יֵשֵׁב שֶׁמָּא יִצְטָרֵף עִם אֲנָשִׁים שֶׁאֵינָן הֲגוּנִים וְנִמְצָא בִּכְלַל קֶשֶׁר בּוֹגְדִים לֹא בִּכְלַל בֵּית דִּין:

It is forbidden for a wise man to sit in judgment until he knows with whom he will be sitting. This restraint is observed lest he be coupled with men who are unsuitable. Thus he will be part of "a band of traitors," and not part of a court.