Sanhedrin: The Supreme Court Regulating Social Life in Judaism

Abstract

The position historically assumed by the Jews among the ancient religions has been nourished by a broad methodology, and their consistency in the determination of religious rules has permeated all areas of life.. This influence gave rise to the necessity of resolving conflicts and disputes that arose in a social context. In Judaism, the highest level institution for the resolution of social rules and disputes between individuals was the Sanhedrin. This council, constituted by a large scholarly aristocracy, was invested with the authority to make numerous religious and political decisions. Furthermore, disputes pertaining to Jewish Sharia and practices were adjudicated by this institution. Given that the Sanhedrin is a religious institution, an effort will be made to elucidate the subject in the context of the information provided in Jewish literature concerning its influence and functioning in the historical process. In this framework, the position of the Sanhedrin in terms of Jewish religion and society will be analysed. In this study, it is emphasised that the Sanhedrin had not only judicial, but also legislative and administrative functions. The article discusses how the Sanhedrin shaped the political, religious and social life of the Jewish community, what criteria it took into account when making decisions regarding daily life, and how it contributed to the development of the Jewish legal system.