The Nascent Sanhedrin - Revision history

Binyomin at 15:41, 16 August 2023

2023-08-16T15:41:27Z

Binyomin at 16:09, 16 November 2009

2009-11-16T16:09:00Z

Binyomin at 16:08, 16 November 2009

2009-11-16T16:08:10Z

Binyomin: /* External links */

2009-11-16T16:06:49Z

‎External links

Binyomin: /* Videos */

2009-06-03T08:53:46Z

‎Videos

Binyomin: /* Videos */

2009-06-03T07:05:35Z

‎Videos

Binyomin at 12:01, 1 June 2009

2009-06-01T12:01:15Z

Binyomin at 07:28, 21 April 2008

2008-04-21T07:28:46Z

Binyomin at 09:53, 31 March 2008

2008-03-31T09:53:15Z

Binyomin at 10:29, 10 March 2008

2008-03-10T10:29:45Z

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 Rabbi Tzvi Eidan, the author of ''Asot Mishpat'' (on the laws of reestablishing the Sanhedrin) was appointed as first interim Nasi. Rabbi Adin Steinzaltz, a noted Talmudic scholar and a well-known Jewish philosopher is the currently elected Nasi. The Sanhedrin's spokesmen said that due to concerns that external pressure would be brought to bear upon individuals not to take part in the establishment of a Sanhedrin, the names of most participants would not be made public.
-Some of its more known members are<ref>[http://www.thesanhedrin.org/en/main/officers.html Current members of the Sanhedrin]</ref>
+Some of its more known members included<ref>[http://www.thesanhedrin.org/en/main/officers.html Current members of the Sanhedrin]</ref>
 * Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, a well known Talmudic scholar who began translating and commentating on the Talmud in 1965, established a network of schools in Israel and Russia, and has received honorary degrees from Yeshiva University, Bar Ilan University, Ben Gurion University and Florida International University
 * Rabbi Nachman Kahane, a graduate of Mir (Jerusalem), a rabbinic scholar and the rabbi of the Young Israel of Jerusalem's Old City. He is currently working on an interpretation of the Tosafot of the Talmud. He is also the director of the Institute for Talmudic Commentaries and has created a database of reliable Kohen in Israel.

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 ==References==
 <references />
 ==Videos==
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 * [http://www.thebronsteins.com/archives/000477.html Semicha and Sanhedrin Controversies of the 16th and 21st Centuries by Rabbi Yirmiyohu Kaganoff ''(against the new Sanhedrin)'']
 * [http://www.jewishpress.com/page.do/17929/The_Sanhedrin_Reestablished_(Part_I).html The Sanhedrin Reestablished - Jewish Press, Part I] [http://www.jewishpress.com/page.do/18317/The_Sanhedrin_Reestablished_(Part_II).html  Part II] [http://www.jewishpress.com/page.do/18385/Focus_On_Israel.html Part III]
 [[he:חידוש הסנהדרין]]

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 Source: [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Modern_attempts_to_revive_the_Sanhedrin&oldid=193845131 Wikipedia]
 ==References==
 <references />
 ==Videos==
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 * [http://www.thebronsteins.com/archives/000477.html Semicha and Sanhedrin Controversies of the 16th and 21st Centuries by Rabbi Yirmiyohu Kaganoff ''(against the new Sanhedrin)'']
 * [http://www.jewishpress.com/page.do/17929/The_Sanhedrin_Reestablished_(Part_I).html The Sanhedrin Reestablished - Jewish Press, Part I] [http://www.jewishpress.com/page.do/18317/The_Sanhedrin_Reestablished_(Part_II).html  Part II] [http://www.jewishpress.com/page.do/18385/Focus_On_Israel.html Part III]
 [[he:חידוש הסנהדרין]]

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 * [http://www.thebronsteins.com/archives/000477.html Semicha and Sanhedrin Controversies of the 16th and 21st Centuries by Rabbi Yirmiyohu Kaganoff ''(against the new Sanhedrin)'']
 * [http://www.jewishpress.com/page.do/17929/The_Sanhedrin_Reestablished_(Part_I).html The Sanhedrin Reestablished - Jewish Press, Part I] [http://www.jewishpress.com/page.do/18317/The_Sanhedrin_Reestablished_(Part_II).html  Part II] [http://www.jewishpress.com/page.do/18385/Focus_On_Israel.html Part III]
 [[he:חידוש הסנהדרין]]

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 * [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EudlsrS908A Kenes HaSanhedrin 5767 Dr Milshtein part 1] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-CZRfvrjo8 2] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHxMs8RZb_4 3] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcSzUfDCXkA 4]
 * [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItuMOxMLX7s Megillat Bush - The Bush Scroll] Rabbi Chaim Richman
 == External links ==

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 [[Image:Sanhedrin in session.jpg|thumb|Sanhedrin in Session 2005]]
-A great deal of discussion on the Sanhedrin forum appears to indicate that the new Sanhedrin is currently taken up with philosophical discussions about the theory of Jewish Law.  The point is repeatedly made that the Sanhedrin "must solve many complex halachic issues" before it can ''begin'' to make any statement or decision in terms of Jewish law.<ref>[http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/641039.html Haaretz]</ref> Its projects are "coordinated in complete consultation with the ''Gedolei Hador'' (leading halachic authorities of the generation) as well as with the Israeli Government Authorities, academics and professionals.... The Sanhedrin Initiative seeks to empower Jews to perform national ''mitzvot'' that thanks to technological advances and/or sociological developments are currently or imminently in the realm of the possible. The Initiative is staffed by accomplished scholars and academics striving to promote dignified Jewish freedom of religious expression which is consistent with the values of Western democracy. The Sanhedrin Initiative adheres to the criteria of ''halacha'' (Jewish law), expertise, amenity and peace in... all its... projects."<ref>[http://thesanhedrin.org/Vaad/KorbanPesach/En/korban/about.htm About KorbanPesach.org]</ref> The Hebrew version adds that it "has no connection with extremist groups, right wing political parties, or those who disregard Jewish law."<ref>[http://thesanhedrin.org/Vaad/KorbanPesach/He/korban/about.htm hebrew version About KorbanPesach.org (he)]</ref>  Events as portrayed by the media, however, have not always fit this idealic picture:
+A great deal of discussion on the Sanhedrin forum appears to indicate that the new Sanhedrin is currently taken up with philosophical discussions about the theory of Jewish Law.  The point is repeatedly made that the Sanhedrin "must solve many complex halachic issues" before it can ''begin'' to make any statement or decision in terms of Jewish law.<ref>[http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/641039.html Haaretz]</ref> Its projects are "coordinated in complete consultation with the ''Gedolei Hador'' (leading halachic authorities of the generation) as well as with the Israeli Government Authorities, academics and professionals.... The Sanhedrin Initiative seeks to empower Jews to perform national ''mitzvot'' that thanks to technological advances and/or sociological developments are currently or imminently in the realm of the possible. The Initiative is staffed by accomplished scholars and academics striving to promote dignified Jewish freedom of religious expression which is consistent with the values of Western democracy. The Sanhedrin Initiative adheres to the criteria of ''halacha'' (Jewish law), expertise, amenity and peace in... all its... projects."<ref>[http://www.KorbanPesach.org/En/korban/about.htm About KorbanPesach.org]</ref> The Hebrew version adds that it "has no connection with extremist groups, right wing political parties, or those who disregard Jewish law."<ref>[http://www.KorbanPesach.org/He/korban/about.htm hebrew version About KorbanPesach.org (he)]</ref>  Events as portrayed by the media, however, have not always fit this idealic picture:
 * The new Sanhedrin formed a committee to collect opinions as to the exact location of the Temple on Temple Mount.<ref>[http://www.thesanhedrin.org/en/legal/psak5765Shevat30.html Decision of the Sanhedrin concerning the exact location of the Temple on the Temple Mount]</ref>
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 * Summoned an IDF officer who issued restraining orders for several residents of the West Bank to appear before the nascent Sanhedrin. This resulted in a Police investigation of the Rabbis who issued the summons.<ref>[http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=117015 Rabbi Ariel Arrested, Released - Inside Israel - Israel News - Arutz Sheva<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1164881843976&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull]</ref> However the reaction of the new Sanhedrin was defiant.<ref>[http://www.thesanhedrin.org/en/legal/psak5767Kislev16.html].</ref>
 * Their annual public conference in 2007 included calls for the public to support a government based on Jewish Law.<ref>[http://tziburbneiyisrael.org/index_en.php Public Conference with Rabbis of the Sanhedrin]</ref>
-* For Passover 2007, they led a drive to offer the passover sacrifice on the Temple Mount.<ref>[http://www.beliefnet.com/story/214/story_21456_1.html Jews Revive the Sanhedrin with Plans for a Passover Sacrifice]</ref><ref>[http://thesanhedrin.org/Vaad/KorbanPesach/En/korban/about.htm Take Part in the (Sanhedrin's) Preparations for the Korban Pesach]</ref>
+* For Passover 2007, they led a drive to offer the passover sacrifice on the Temple Mount.<ref>[http://www.beliefnet.com/story/214/story_21456_1.html Jews Revive the Sanhedrin with Plans for a Passover Sacrifice]</ref><ref>[http://www.KorbanPesach.org/En/korban/about.htm Take Part in the (Sanhedrin's) Preparations for the Korban Pesach]</ref>
 * In May 2007, they launched a diplomatic peace initiative aimed at averting a conflict between Israel and Iran, and resolving the issue of the Temple Mount.<ref>[http://www.nfc.co.il/Archive/001-D-129719-00.html?tag=13-51-05 Nfc: Praying for the Temple Mount]</ref><ref>[http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3394231,00.html Ynet: The Sanhedrin’s peace initiative]</ref>
 * In August 2007, At the request of the Falun Gong, the new Sanhedrin was to deliberate persecution of the movement by Chinese regime.<ref>[http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3439266,00.html   YNet: Self-appointed Torah court takes on China]</ref><ref>[http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/132050 Israel National News: Sanhedrin May Hear Complaint against Chinese Torture]</ref><ref>[http://www.nfc.co.il/Archive/001-D-138226-00.html?tag=10-17-51 NFC: International Court of Justice, according to the laws of the torah]</ref>
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 == External links ==
 * [http://www.youtube.com/results?search=related&v=AqCQ_lgZoaA Sanhedrin Conference 2007] - 29 videos from speakers at the 2007 annual conference.
-* [http://thesanhedrin.org/Vaad/KorbanPesach/En/korban/about.htm Take Part in the (Sanhedrin's) Preparations for the Korban Pesach]
+* [http://www.KorbanPesach.org/En/korban/about.htm Take Part in the (Sanhedrin's) Preparations for the Korban Pesach]
 * [http://tziburbneiyisrael.org/index_en.php Public Conference with Rabbis of the Sanhedrin]
 *[http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=70349 Arutz-7: Sanhedrin reconstituted (Israel National News)]

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 Rabbi Moshe Halberstam (April 1, 1932 –April 26, 2006), who was selected to receive Semicha by consensus, was a relatively well known figure and widely respected.   Rabbi Halberstam was the son of Grand Rabbi Yaakov Halberstam of Tshokava (a scion of the Sanz (Hasidic dynasty) dynasty) and the daughter of Rabbi Sholom of Shotz (Hasidic dynasty) of London. He was the ''rosh yeshiva'' of the Tshokava Yeshiva in Jerusalem and one of the most prominent members of the Edah Charedis Rabbinical court of Jerusalem. He was known as a tremendous Torah scholar and a decisor of Halachah law. He wrote approbations to many works of Torah literature. Rabbi Halberstam served at the President of Hatzolah Israel. He was also the Rabbi of the Shaarei Tzedek Hospital in Jerusalem. He was known for his tolerance towards other streams of thought in Orthodox Judaism. Despite his own Chareidi anti-Zionist background, he also maintained contacts with Modern Orthodox, religious Zionist leaders.
-These figures did not necessarily supported the creation of a Sanhedrin, only that they supported the reinstitution of Semicha.   Rabbi Dov Shtein, the secretary for the Sanhedrin project, claimed that Rabbi Moshe Halberstam understood the where his actions would lead. Rabbi Dov Shtein said "Without Rabbi Halberstam's efforts toward renewing semikha, it would not have happened the way it did," he said. "By agreeing to be the first to be ordained, he took a serious risk of being rejected and condemned by his community for taking part in such a project, which set the ball rolling for the foundation of a Jewish legal body that seeks to eventually supersede the Badatz. But despite the serious pressures put on him following his agreement and granting of semikha to others, he never went back on it or even tempered his agreement with the act of renewing semikha."<ref>[http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=102678 Jerusalem Post: Rav Moshe Halberstam, First to Renew Semicha, Dies at 74]</ref>.
+These figures did not necessarily supported the creation of a Sanhedrin, only that they supported the reinstitution of Semicha.   Rabbi Dov Shtein, the secretary for the Sanhedrin project, said that Rabbi Moshe Halberstam understood the where his actions would lead. Rabbi Dov Shtein said "Without Rabbi Halberstam's efforts toward renewing semikha, it would not have happened the way it did," he said. "By agreeing to be the first to be ordained, he took a serious risk of being rejected and condemned by his community for taking part in such a project, which set the ball rolling for the foundation of a Jewish legal body that seeks to eventually supersede the Badatz. But despite the serious pressures put on him following his agreement and granting of semikha to others, he never went back on it or even tempered his agreement with the act of renewing semikha."<ref>[http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=102678 Jerusalem Post: Rav Moshe Halberstam, First to Renew Semicha, Dies at 74]</ref>.
 ==The formation of a placeholder Sanhedrin==
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 ==The current Sanhedrin's view of government ==
-The Sanhedrin is a form of Rabbinic Parliament, part of a bicameral system that reflects traditional Jewish government.<ref>[http://www.thesanhedrin.org/en/courtnationstate/ Special Court For Matters Concerning The Nation and the State]</ref> They claim that this model has influenced the organizational structure of many Western European legislatures.<ref>ibid. Examples are given concerning division of authority, the name "Senate", even semi-circle seating.</ref> They describe the roles of an upper and lower house:
+The Sanhedrin is a form of Rabbinic Parliament, part of a bicameral system that reflects traditional Jewish government.<ref>[http://www.thesanhedrin.org/en/courtnationstate/ Special Court For Matters Concerning The Nation and the State]</ref> This model has influenced the organizational structure of many Western European legislatures.<ref>ibid. Examples are given concerning division of authority, the name "Senate", even semi-circle seating.</ref> They describe the roles of an upper and lower house:
 * The Sanhedrin is described as a "House of Scholars". This body represents the "rights and obligations" of the people to the "Torah Constitution" which they define as including "the Torah, Talmud and body of Rabbinic Jurisprudence that has been built up over our history as a people".<ref>[http://thesanhedrin.org/forums/viewtopic.php?p=939 Sanhedrin Forum]</ref>
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 <blockquote>Torah "Basic Law": Laws which are contrary to the laws of the Torah are not laws of the Jewish people, and therefore they are invalid.  Any law which is contrary to the laws of Torah, legislated by the "Knesset" (including legislated amendments) or interpreted as such by judicial sources is a disqualified law.  The authority to decide in these matters has been unconditionally expropriated by the central religious court based on the Torah (Bible) [the Sanhedrin].<ref>[http://www.thesanhedrin.org/en/legal/psak5766Adar21.html Sanhedrin, "Decision of the Sanhedrin concerning the State Elections"]</ref></blockquote>
-In an exercise of its claim to authority over "matters concerning the Land of Israel", the Sanhendrin has issued a series of decisions declaring the Israeli pullout from Gaza invalid. In "The Sanhedrin's Declaration Concerning the Disengagement from Gaza",<ref>[http://www.thesanhedrin.org/en/legal/psak5765AdarI26.html]<"The Sanhedrin's Declaration Concerning the Disengagement from Gaza"</ref> the Sanhedrin prohibited Jews from cooperating with the Government, saying: "The Prime Minister's program of uprooting stands in direct contradiction to the Torah of Israel.", "the decision of this government...is null and void.", "No Jew is permitted to cooperate" and "Any Jew - including a soldier or policeman - who supports the uprooting...transgresses a large number of Torah commandments."
+In exercising its authority over "matters concerning the Land of Israel", the Sanhedrin has issued a series of decisions declaring the Israeli pullout from Gaza invalid. In "The Sanhedrin's Declaration Concerning the Disengagement from Gaza",<ref>[http://www.thesanhedrin.org/en/legal/psak5765AdarI26.html]<"The Sanhedrin's Declaration Concerning the Disengagement from Gaza"</ref> the Sanhedrin prohibited Jews from cooperating with the Government, saying: "The Prime Minister's program of uprooting stands in direct contradiction to the Torah of Israel.", "the decision of this government...is null and void.", "No Jew is permitted to cooperate" and "Any Jew - including a soldier or policeman - who supports the uprooting...transgresses a large number of Torah commandments."
-Commenting on the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict in August 2006, the new Sanhedrin also claimed that it is the only authorized national institution to deal with the legal aspects of warfare and to give policy directives to the State concerning warfare. It claims that enacting legislation concerning warfare always has been a distinguishing feature of the historical Sanhedrin.<ref>[http://www.thesanhedrin.org/en/legal/psak5766Sivan24b.html Concerning responding to an attack]</ref>
+Commenting on the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict in August 2006, the new Sanhedrin being the only authorized national institution to deal with the legal aspects of warfare and to give policy directives to the State concerning warfare. Enacting legislation concerning warfare always has been a distinguishing feature of the historical Sanhedrin.<ref>[http://www.thesanhedrin.org/en/legal/psak5766Sivan24b.html Concerning responding to an attack]</ref>
 ==The Sanhedrin's actions==
 [[Image:Sanhedrin in session.jpg|thumb|Sanhedrin in Session 2005]]
-A great deal of discussion on the Sanhedrin forum appears to indicate that the new Sanhedrin is currently taken up with philosophical discussions about the theory of Jewish Law.  The point is repeatedly made that the Sanhedrin "must solve many complex halachic issues" before it can ''begin'' to make any statement or decision in terms of Jewish law.<ref>[http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/641039.html Haaretz]</ref> It claims its projects are "coordinated in complete consultation with the ''Gedolei Hador'' (leading halachic authorities of the generation) as well as with the Israeli Government Authorities, academics and professionals.... The Sanhedrin Initiative seeks to empower Jews to perform national ''mitzvot'' that thanks to technological advances and/or sociological developments are currently or imminently in the realm of the possible. The Initiative is staffed by accomplished scholars and academics striving to promote dignified Jewish freedom of religious expression which is consistent with the values of Western democracy. The Sanhedrin Initiative adheres to the criteria of ''halacha'' (Jewish law), expertise, amenity and peace in... all its... projects."<ref>[http://thesanhedrin.org/Vaad/KorbanPesach/En/korban/about.htm About KorbanPesach.org]</ref> The Hebrew version adds that it "has no connection with extremist groups, right wing political parties, or those who disregard Jewish law."<ref>[http://thesanhedrin.org/Vaad/KorbanPesach/He/korban/about.htm hebrew version About KorbanPesach.org (he)]</ref>  Events as portrayed by the media, however, have not always fit this idealic picture:
+A great deal of discussion on the Sanhedrin forum appears to indicate that the new Sanhedrin is currently taken up with philosophical discussions about the theory of Jewish Law.  The point is repeatedly made that the Sanhedrin "must solve many complex halachic issues" before it can ''begin'' to make any statement or decision in terms of Jewish law.<ref>[http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/641039.html Haaretz]</ref> Its projects are "coordinated in complete consultation with the ''Gedolei Hador'' (leading halachic authorities of the generation) as well as with the Israeli Government Authorities, academics and professionals.... The Sanhedrin Initiative seeks to empower Jews to perform national ''mitzvot'' that thanks to technological advances and/or sociological developments are currently or imminently in the realm of the possible. The Initiative is staffed by accomplished scholars and academics striving to promote dignified Jewish freedom of religious expression which is consistent with the values of Western democracy. The Sanhedrin Initiative adheres to the criteria of ''halacha'' (Jewish law), expertise, amenity and peace in... all its... projects."<ref>[http://thesanhedrin.org/Vaad/KorbanPesach/En/korban/about.htm About KorbanPesach.org]</ref> The Hebrew version adds that it "has no connection with extremist groups, right wing political parties, or those who disregard Jewish law."<ref>[http://thesanhedrin.org/Vaad/KorbanPesach/He/korban/about.htm hebrew version About KorbanPesach.org (he)]</ref>  Events as portrayed by the media, however, have not always fit this idealic picture:
 * The new Sanhedrin formed a committee to collect opinions as to the exact location of the Temple on Temple Mount.<ref>[http://www.thesanhedrin.org/en/legal/psak5765Shevat30.html Decision of the Sanhedrin concerning the exact location of the Temple on the Temple Mount]</ref>

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 Maimonides and other medieval commentators suggested that, although the line of semicha (Biblical ordination) from Moses had been broken in 425 C.E., if the sages in the land of Israel agree upon a single candidate being worthy of semicha, that individual would have semicha, and could then grant it to others, thus enabling the re-establishment of the Sanhedrin
-According to the new Sanhedrin's website,<ref>[http://www.thesanhedrin.org/en/main/authority.html The idea behind the restoration of the Great Court, and the halachic foundations for operation]</ref> the process of election [http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=96361 was explained] by Rabbi Dov Levanoni, a member of the new Sanhedrin.  He said the most recent attempt to renew the institution of semicha in 2004, was made through a consensus of hundreds of the most influential and scholarly Rabbis living in the Land of Israel.  While Rabbi Yaakov Beirav and Rabbi Yosef Karo laid an excellent halachic (Jewish law) foundation for understanding this teaching of Maimonides, the current attempt to re-establish the Jewish Sanhedrin has tried to learn from previous attempts and avoid some of the pitfalls.  For example, to avoid claims that not all the rabbis of Israel were aware of the latest attempt to set up the Sanhedrin, an initial enormous expenditure was spent on a publicity campaign of the upcoming semichah process, 50,000 copies of a detailed flier were distributed among 4,500 Jewish centers in Israel, outlining that a vote of a first samuch was going to be held, along with contact information of the ''Va'ad ha-Mechonen la-Sanhedrin''. Not long afterwards, seven hundred leading Rabbonim were contacted either in person or by written letter. R' Levanoni explained that Rabbi Moshe Halberstam, a senior Rabbi on Jerusalem's Edah HaChareidis, became the first samuch after receiving approval by Israel's leading rabbis – those followed by most of Israel's religious Jews – and there were no objections from the hundreds of rabbis consulted via written letters.
+The process of election [http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=96361 was explained] by Rabbi Dov Levanoni, a member of the new Sanhedrin.  He said the most recent attempt to renew the institution of semicha in 2004, was made through a consensus of hundreds of the most influential and scholarly Rabbis living in the Land of Israel.  While Rabbi Yaakov Beirav and Rabbi Yosef Karo laid an excellent halachic (Jewish law) foundation for understanding this teaching of Maimonides, the current attempt to re-establish the Jewish Sanhedrin has tried to learn from previous attempts and avoid some of the pitfalls.  For example, to avoid claims that not all the rabbis of Israel were aware of the latest attempt to set up the Sanhedrin, an initial enormous expenditure was spent on a publicity campaign of the upcoming semichah process, 50,000 copies of a detailed flier were distributed among 4,500 Jewish centers in Israel, outlining that a vote of a first samuch was going to be held, along with contact information of the ''Va'ad ha-Mechonen la-Sanhedrin''. Not long afterwards, seven hundred leading Rabbonim were contacted either in person or by written letter. R' Levanoni explained that Rabbi Moshe Halberstam, a senior Rabbi on Jerusalem's Edah HaChareidis, became the first samuch after receiving approval by Israel's leading rabbis – those followed by most of Israel's religious Jews – and there were no objections from the hundreds of rabbis consulted via written letters.
-The website also claims<ref>ibid.</ref> that leading sages have supported the semichah directly, indirectly or abstained, and specifically mentions these names: Rabbi Yosef Shalom Eliashiv, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, Rabbi Zalman Nechemia Goldberg and many others gave their blessing but did not join the Sanhedrin. The son of Rabbi Mordecai Eliyahu is one of the rabbis ordained. Former Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi and Rosh Yeshiva of Merkaz HaRav Kook Rabbi Avraham Shapira chose to abstain on the issue but also refused to discourage it.
+Leading sages have supported the semichah directly, indirectly or abstained, and specifically mentions these names: Rabbi Yosef Shalom Eliashiv, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, Rabbi Zalman Nechemia Goldberg and many others gave their blessing but did not join the Sanhedrin. The son of Rabbi Mordecai Eliyahu is one of the rabbis ordained. Former Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi and Rosh Yeshiva of Merkaz HaRav Kook Rabbi Avraham Shapira chose to abstain on the issue but also refused to discourage it.
 [[Image:Moshehalberstam.JPG|thumb|Rabbi Moshe Halberstam, זצ"ל]]
 Rabbi Moshe Halberstam (April 1, 1932 –April 26, 2006), who was selected to receive Semicha by consensus, was a relatively well known figure and widely respected.   Rabbi Halberstam was the son of Grand Rabbi Yaakov Halberstam of Tshokava (a scion of the Sanz (Hasidic dynasty) dynasty) and the daughter of Rabbi Sholom of Shotz (Hasidic dynasty) of London. He was the ''rosh yeshiva'' of the Tshokava Yeshiva in Jerusalem and one of the most prominent members of the Edah Charedis Rabbinical court of Jerusalem. He was known as a tremendous Torah scholar and a decisor of Halachah law. He wrote approbations to many works of Torah literature. Rabbi Halberstam served at the President of Hatzolah Israel. He was also the Rabbi of the Shaarei Tzedek Hospital in Jerusalem. He was known for his tolerance towards other streams of thought in Orthodox Judaism. Despite his own Chareidi anti-Zionist background, he also maintained contacts with Modern Orthodox, religious Zionist leaders.
-The website does not claim that these figures supported the creation of a Sanhedrin, only that they supported the reinstitution of Semicha.   Rabbi Dov Shtein, the secretary for the Sanhedrin project, claimed that Rabbi Moshe Halberstam understood the where his actions would lead. Rabbi Dov Shtein said "Without Rabbi Halberstam's efforts toward renewing semikha, it would not have happened the way it did," he said. "By agreeing to be the first to be ordained, he took a serious risk of being rejected and condemned by his community for taking part in such a project, which set the ball rolling for the foundation of a Jewish legal body that seeks to eventually supersede the Badatz. But despite the serious pressures put on him following his agreement and granting of semikha to others, he never went back on it or even tempered his agreement with the act of renewing semikha."<ref>[http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=102678 Jerusalem Post: Rav Moshe Halberstam, First to Renew Semicha, Dies at 74]</ref>.
+These figures did not necessarily supported the creation of a Sanhedrin, only that they supported the reinstitution of Semicha.   Rabbi Dov Shtein, the secretary for the Sanhedrin project, claimed that Rabbi Moshe Halberstam understood the where his actions would lead. Rabbi Dov Shtein said "Without Rabbi Halberstam's efforts toward renewing semikha, it would not have happened the way it did," he said. "By agreeing to be the first to be ordained, he took a serious risk of being rejected and condemned by his community for taking part in such a project, which set the ball rolling for the foundation of a Jewish legal body that seeks to eventually supersede the Badatz. But despite the serious pressures put on him following his agreement and granting of semikha to others, he never went back on it or even tempered his agreement with the act of renewing semikha."<ref>[http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=102678 Jerusalem Post: Rav Moshe Halberstam, First to Renew Semicha, Dies at 74]</ref>.
 ==The formation of a placeholder Sanhedrin==
-The Sanhedrin website explains<ref>[http://www.thesanhedrin.org/en/main/rabbibeirav.html Rabbi Yaakov Beirav's attempt to re-establish a Sanhedrin in 1538]</ref> "To avoid disagreements over who was worthy to sit on the Sanhedrin, a Beis din of 71 was immediately formed. It was formed with the best scholars available, with the public announcement every one of them has agreed to step aside the moment a more deserving candidate should step forward. Lastly, the Nasi has indicated that the Beis din would wait until the best scholars of Eretz Yisroel were represented on the Beis din before beginning to fully function halachically as the Sanhedrin of old."
+To avoid disagreements over who was worthy to sit on the Sanhedrin, a Beis din of 71 was immediately formed. It was formed with the best scholars available, with the public announcement every one of them has agreed to step aside the moment a more deserving candidate should step forward. Lastly, the Nasi has indicated that the Beis din would wait until the best scholars of Eretz Yisroel were represented on the Beis din before beginning to fully function halachically as the Sanhedrin of old.
 [[Image:Sanhedrin ceremony.jpg|thumb|Inauguration of the Sanhedrin in 2004]]
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 Under the influence of Rabbi Steinsaltz, the Sanhedrin project shifted away from idealistic projects of its first year and tried to move toward broadening participation. Steinsaltz requested that the new Sanhedrin not be referred to as "the Sanhedrin", but requested modest references to the current institution as the nascent Sanhedrin, the developing Sanhedrin, the Sanhedrin project, or simply the Rabbinical Court of 71 judges (''Beis din shel 71'').  Steinsaltz is reportedly changing the direction of the new Sanhedrin,  widening the scope and acceptance of the Court with the intention of moving towards becoming the full Sanhedrin.<ref>[http://israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=92348 Arutz-7: Sanhedrin Project Unveiled With Humility]</ref>
-According to their website, the strategy to gain wider acceptance and "provide a smooth transition from current halachic leadership to a full Sanhedrin", is to follow these guidelines: Absolute adherence to traditional Rabbinic authorities and procedure; Caution and conservatism; Independence from any other organization; Scholarship; and an open dialog with the Torah sages and current halachic leadership (with the eventual goal of their participation). On their forum it was put this way, "the [new] Sanhedrin should hold no surprises. It should be as comfortable as opening a gemoro [Talmud] or as familiar as reading the Shulchan aruch. It should be the embodiment of Judaism as we know it today."<ref>[http://thesanhedrin.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=30 Sanhedrin Forum]</ref>
+The strategy to gain wider acceptance and "provide a smooth transition from current halachic leadership to a full Sanhedrin", is to follow these guidelines: Absolute adherence to traditional Rabbinic authorities and procedure; Caution and conservatism; Independence from any other organization; Scholarship; and an open dialog with the Torah sages and current halachic leadership (with the eventual goal of their participation). On their forum it was put this way, "the [new] Sanhedrin should hold no surprises. It should be as comfortable as opening a gemoro [Talmud] or as familiar as reading the Shulchan aruch. It should be the embodiment of Judaism as we know it today."<ref>[http://thesanhedrin.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=30 Sanhedrin Forum]</ref>
 ==The current Sanhedrin's view of government ==
-The new Sanhedrin's website portrays the Sanhedrin as a form of Rabbinic Parliament, part of a bicameral system that they claim reflects traditional Jewish government.<ref>[http://www.thesanhedrin.org/en/courtnationstate/ Special Court For Matters Concerning The Nation and the State]</ref> They claim that this model has influenced the organizational structure of many Western European legislatures.<ref>ibid. Examples are given concerning division of authority, the name "Senate", even semi-circle seating.</ref> They describe the roles of an upper and lower house:
+The Sanhedrin is a form of Rabbinic Parliament, part of a bicameral system that reflects traditional Jewish government.<ref>[http://www.thesanhedrin.org/en/courtnationstate/ Special Court For Matters Concerning The Nation and the State]</ref> They claim that this model has influenced the organizational structure of many Western European legislatures.<ref>ibid. Examples are given concerning division of authority, the name "Senate", even semi-circle seating.</ref> They describe the roles of an upper and lower house:
 * The Sanhedrin is described as a "House of Scholars". This body represents the "rights and obligations" of the people to the "Torah Constitution" which they define as including "the Torah, Talmud and body of Rabbinic Jurisprudence that has been built up over our history as a people".<ref>[http://thesanhedrin.org/forums/viewtopic.php?p=939 Sanhedrin Forum]</ref>