A beth din, bet din, beit din or beis din (Hebrew: בית דין, "house of judgment"; plural battei din) is a rabbinical court of Judaism. In ancient times, it was the building block of the legal system in the Biblical Land of Israel. Today, it is invested with legal powers in a number of religious matters (din Torah, "matter of litigation," plural dinei Torah) both in Israel and in Jewish communities in the Diaspora, where its judgments hold varying degrees of authority (depending upon the jurisdiction and subject matter) in matters specifically related to Jewish religious life.
Read more about Beth Din: Antiquity and Historical Value, Present Situation, Officers of A Beth Din
Famous quotes containing the words beth and/or din:
“Where beth they biforen us weren,”
—Unknown. Ubi Sunt Qui ante Nos Fuerunt? (L. 1)
“a great space
Of white and pewter lights, and a din like silversmiths
Beating and beating at an intractable metal.”
—Sylvia Plath (1932–1963)