Revision as of 10:58, 17 January 2010

Informal translation from Hebrew of the 22 Kislev, 5770, (9 December 2009) statement:

The Sanhedrin wishes to congratulate the Minister of Justice Prof. Yaakov Neeman who did a kiddush shem Shamayim^[1] in public. He pointed to the proper form of legislature for the Nation of Israel: a legal system founded on the Torah, as it said by Rabbenu Saadia Gaon "our people are not a nation without the Torah".^[2] In a fitting way Yaakov Neeman fulfilled the meaning of his name "Neeman" (which means faithful), and the mission of "Yaakov" (our forefather), a pure man learning in the tents. You have brought honor to your family.

The founders of the Sanhedrin formulated, shortly after its establishment, a covenant for the establishment of a Great Court based on Torah. In it was declared the principle of Torah based legal system as a living and agreed upon system of law for the Land of Israel. It called for the establishment of courts throughout the country.

Establishment of an alternative court system as noted by the Minister of Justice is urgently needed, not just civil law, but in all areas of law. Indeed there is need to coordinate norms of criminal justice penalties between the legal systems. The two systems can live in peace and coordination.

Before us, the Jewish people, there is a long way to go before a legal system of based on the Torah will be agreed upon by the general population. This process involves gentle, nurturing of the prestige of the Torah courts, intellectualizing their procedures, maintaining the order of law with the cooperation of both the religious and non-religious public. All this together with the organization of communities of observant Jews around a Torah based legal system.

[Let it be known that there is already a connection between State law, and the rulings of the Sanhedrin, we learn] from the fundamental decisions of the Sanhedrin: every law of the State of Israel, properly enacted, that does not contradict the laws of the Torah, is a valid law (according to Jewish Law).

We pray that the reverberations of the words of the Minister Neeman will open the doors of Torah, that it may shine forth.

Out of respect for the Torah, let us find ways to establish a Torah based legal system, strengthening the people of Israel, the State of Israel and the Land of Israel.

Negation of a Torah based legal system however, invalidates, G-d forbid, the legitimacy of the Jewish State. Such a negation, obviously endangers our present and continued existence, and existence in the future even more.

Justice Rabbi Prof. Hillel Weiss - Speaker of the Court
Justice Rabbi Dov Stein - Secretariat

Click here to see the Hebrew version

References

1. ↑ Kiddush hashem (Hebrew: קידוש השם‎; “sanctification of the name [of G-d]”) is a precept of Judaism as expressed in the Torah for any Jew: “To sanctify His Name” Leviticus 22:32, and conversely not to bring dishonor or shame to G-d’s name which is known as Chillul Hashem: “Not to profane His Name” Lev. 22:32. Thus any action by a Jew that brings honor, respect, and glory to G-d is considered to be a Kiddush Hashem, whereas any behavior or action that disgraces, harms or shames G-d and His Torah is regarded as a Chillul Hashem which means a “desecration of G-d.”
2. ↑ Emunos VeDeos, Chapter 3 end

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