We have all heard the old saying, "two Jews, three opinions." In the Jewish world, every living rabbinical authority and sect has a differing outlook and traditions. Since the return of millions of Jews to our homeland, this has been the greatest stumbling block to true national unity. Without authentic Mosaic ordination, no single rabbi or court has the legal authority to impose their interpretation or view on the Jewish nation. Neither can they provide the proper leadership and guidance to the rest of the world-as required of "a kingdom of priests" (Exodus 19:6) Even if one group were to succeed in muscling its way into power, they wouldn't have the Shekhinah-G-d's Presence-among them. This holy spirit, according to tradition, rests upon the Great Court of 71 Torah sages, the Sanhedrin of Israel.
It is no less than a positive commandment from Torah, binding upon the Jewish nation in every generation, to institute such a court, if it does not already exist, as it is written, "Judges and officers thou shalt appoint in all thy gates." (Deuteronomy 16:18) Furthermore, we are commanded not to veer right or left from their judgment, but to act exactly according to their instruction, as it is written in Deuteronomy 17:8-11:
If there arise a matter too hard for you in judgment… then you shall arise, and go up to the place where the LORD thy G-d shall choose. And you shall come to the priests the Levites and to the judge who shall be in those days; and you shall inquire; and they shall declare to you the sentence of judgment. And you shall do according to the sentence that they shall declare to you from that place which the LORD shall choose; and you shall observe to do according to all that they shall teach you. According to the law which they shall teach you, and according to the judgment which they shall tell you, you shall do; you shall not turn aside from the sentence that they shall declare to you, to the right nor to the left.
Besides the commandment aspect of the Sanhedrin and its potential to unify the Jewish People, there is the social need. In general, Jews have a kind, caring and well-intending nature. However, a state of over 6,000,000 Jews with no single, living, indisputable source of Torah judgment is a hotbed of sectarian rivalry, religious ignorance, grave injustice, and general moral decay.
The Sanhedrin is that source for Torah judgement. It is comprised of 71 men not only well known for their vast Torah knowledge, but secular wisdom as well. They are the paragon of humility, honesty, and fear of Heaven. Jewish Law recognizes them as the bearers of authentic Mosaic ordination, the very foundation of Torah teaching. They are the light of righteous judgment and true justice not only for the Jewish People, but ultimately for the entire world, who are all under the seven-law Covenant of Noah. When Isaiah (2:3) proclaims, "The Torah shall come forth from Zion, and the word of G-d from Jerusalem", he specifically refers to the 71 sages who are to sit in the Chamber of Hewn Stone of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, whose judgments--the true word of G-d -- go forth to the whole world.
Some may find that reasonable regarding the last Sanhedrin that disbanded some 1600 years ago. However, after semikhah (authentic rabbinical ordination) ceased, wasn't the chain broken?
Absolutely not. Thank G-d, the Torah was never forgotten, but studied passionately across the centuries in hundreds of communities across the globe. Therefore, even though the Sanhedrin was disbanded, it could still be renewed according to the procedure written down by Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon, the Rambam, in the 12th century. After a few sincere attempts to renew the Sanhedrin during the long, bitter exile, it was finally reinstated on the 28th day of Tishrei 5765 (October 13, 2004).
What is so powerful about this event is that it brings us to the next stage in the unfolding Redemption of the Jewish People and the world. In tractate Megillah 17b, the Babylonian Talmud teaches in that the Redemption will unfold according to the order of the 19 blessings in the 'Amidah prayer.* It doesn't require a mystical or messianic outlook to see this process unfolding before our very eyes:
After the petition for a good livelihood in blessing #9, we pray for the return of the exiles in blessing #10. In recent history (the 19th Century), a number of Jewish families rose to great wealth (i.e. the Rothschild and Muyal families). This allowed for the purchase of large tracts of land from the Ottoman Turks, for the resettlement of Jews in Israel, and the funding of a new state that would facilitate the return of millions more. It is the answer to our heartfelt prayers over centuries. The very next blessing (#11) is the petition for the renewal of ordained judges, the renewal of the Sanhedrin, which just took place a few months ago.
The reestablishment of the Sanhedrin is the prerequisite for the next four stages, which are, in order:
the punishment of the wicked (blessing #12)
the reward of the righteous (blessing #13)
the building of the Holy Temple (blessing #14)
The above will all precede the ultimate stage (blessing #15), the arrival of the MashiaH (the Messiah), the prophesied king who will usher in an age of world peace and the universal recognition of G-d and the exalted role of the Jewish People.
In the letter of blessing and support of the new Sanhedrin signed by HaRav Dov Lior, Chief Rabbi of Hebron, it is written, "Fortunate is the one who signs [his support] and participates in raising up the glory of Torah and its splendor as in days of old and ancient times."
