The Beth Din
A Beth Din (plural: Batei Din) is a panel of (usually) three rabbis who have specific functions in Jewish Law. Every Jewish community is expected to establish and maintain a Beth Din so that these functions can be discharged. Whilst some Batei Din undertake to arbitrate and rule in disputes that may arise between people, the Melbourne Beth Din has never had this role and does not have it now. The role of Melbourne Beth Din is limited to
- Overseeing the process of Jewish divorce (gett) to ensure that all halachic requirements are met;
- Overseeing the process of converting those born as gentiles to the Jewish faith;
- Issuing certificates of personal status to those who may require them.
The role of Melbourne Beth Din, therefore, is a facilitative one. It does not “decree” a divorce, but rather certifies that the couple themselves have done correctly what Jewish law requires of them to end their marriage. The laws of Jewish divorce are extremely complex and detailed, and this is the reason that the process must be overseen by very learned Rabbis who have spent years becoming familiar with all of the halachic intricacies.