01 — The eyes of Israel
The Great Sanhedrin of Jerusalem recalls that Israel cannot be guided only by scattered forces. It needs a collective wisdom able to see far, to discern and to illuminate the way.
Sanhedrin
The Great Sanhedrin of Jerusalem
Reopening Israel's eyes.
In the tradition of Israel, the Great Sanhedrin of Jerusalem represents the ideal of a collective wisdom rooted in the Torah, able to unite justice, discernment, responsibility and national life.
The sages are called the eyes of the assembly: as the eyes guide the body, collective wisdom guides the people. Without such clarity, Israel can advance with force, but without common vision.
Source: Rashi on Bamidbar / Numbers 15:24, on the expression "the eyes of the assembly."
Beith David works to bring this consciousness back to the heart of the people: not as a claim to power, but as an essential key for the spiritual, moral and national restoration of Israel.
The Great Sanhedrin of Jerusalem is not only an ancient memory. It recalls to Israel its deeper vocation: to radiate from Jerusalem a voice of Torah, justice, truth and peace.
"I will restore your judges as at the first, and your counsellors as at the beginning; afterward you shall be called the city of justice, the faithful city."
Today
Why speak of the Great Sanhedrin today?
Israel has returned to its land. But the physical return also calls for an inner restoration.
Our generation faces military, social, educational, economic, moral and spiritual challenges. The fractures between streams, the fatigue of the people, the confusion of values, the cost of living, internal tensions and the permanent gaze of the nations make deep reflection necessary.
To speak of the Great Sanhedrin of Jerusalem today is not to claim a power. It is to reopen an essential question: how can Israel recover a common wisdom, faithful to the Torah, able to illuminate justice, education, social peace, national life and its relation to the nations?
Beith David carries this question with strength and responsibility. Not to impose an answer, but to awaken a consciousness: Israel cannot only survive its trials. Israel must recover its light, its justice and its voice.
Collective wisdom
A collective wisdom for Israel
02 — Justice of Torah
The justice of Israel is not limited to social order. It must protect truth, human dignity, the most vulnerable and the moral responsibility of the people.
03 — Jerusalem
Jerusalem is not only a political capital. In the vision of the prophets, it is called to become again a source of Torah, justice and peace for Israel and for the nations. Reference: Isaiah 2:3; Micah 4:2.
04 — Living Torah
The Great Sanhedrin of Jerusalem recalls that the Torah is not destined to remain in abstraction. It must illuminate the family, education, the economy, justice, social peace and national life.
Study
The main study gates
Beith David gathers and clarifies several axes of study around the Great Sanhedrin of Jerusalem, its sources, its history, its objections, and its scope for Israel and for the nations.
Questions
Essential FAQ
The questions around the Great Sanhedrin of Jerusalem are essential. Beith David addresses them with faithfulness to the sources, dignity and clarity, in order to touch the consciences, the hearts of the people and the masters of Israel.
Place
Clarity and limits
Because the subject is elevated, Beith David clearly states its place.
Beith David does not claim
- Restore the Great Sanhedrin of Jerusalem on its own
- Claim an institutional authority
- Replace existing rabbinical authorities
- Speak in the name of all Israel
- Create a political party
- Impose an interpretation on anyone
Beith David seeks to
- Promote this essential key for Israel and for the world
- Touch the consciences and hearts of the people
- Address the masters of Israel with respect
- Study the sources with seriousness
- Make the subject accessible
- Rekindle a consciousness of collective wisdom
- Make known the previous attempts
- Clarify objections and responses
- Invite each one to reflect on Israel's spiritual vocation
References
Main sources
This page draws notably on the Torah, the Prophets, the Talmud, the Rambam, the Kesef Mishneh, the Jerusalem Talmud, the Zohar, the Arizal, the Ramhal, the Maharal, Rav Kook, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Naḥman of Breslev and Rav Yitzchak Ginsburgh.
- Devarim / Deuteronomy 17:8-11
- Isaiah 1:26-27
- Isaiah 2:3
- Micah 4:2
- Bamidbar / Numbers 15:24 with Rashi
- Rambam, Hilkhot Sanhedrin 1:1 and 4:11
- Kesef Mishneh on Hilkhot Sanhedrin 4:11
- Jerusalem Talmud, Sanhedrin 1:3
- Zohar III, 125b
- Arizal, Shaar HaMitsvot, Devarim 17:9
- Ramhal, Derekh Hashem IV, 4
- Maharal, Tiferet Israel, chapter 17
- Rav Kook, Mishpat Kohen, paragraph 342
- Likutei Moharan II:5
Conclusion
A wisdom to be recovered
The Great Sanhedrin of Jerusalem is not first a power to be claimed. It is a wisdom to be recovered.
A wisdom able to unite Torah and justice.
A wisdom able to illuminate national life without erasing differences.
A wisdom able to recall to Israel its deeper vocation: to be a people of truth, of responsibility and of peace.
From Jerusalem, Beith David wishes to promote this consciousness with dignity, strength, prudence and faithfulness.