Modern attempts to revive the Sanhedrin

Modern attempts to revive the Sanhedrin are the efforts from 1538 until the present day to renew the Sanhedrin, which was the high court and legislative authority for Jews in ancient times. The Sanhedrin was originally dissolved in 358 by the edict of the Roman emperor Constantius II. (Though 358 was the last formal meeting, there is no record of when it was actually dissolved and by whom.)

Modern attempts to revive the Sanhedrin rely on the opinion of Maimonides (1135–1204), who proposed a mechanism by which semikhah and the Sanhedrin could be reestablished.^[1]^[2] There have been several attempts to implement Maimonides' recommendations. In 1538, Rabbi Jacob Berab of Safed attempted to restore the traditional form of semikhah, and ordained several other rabbis, including Rabbi Yosef Karo. However, this attempt was controversial, and in any case the chain of ordination died out after several generations. Several later attempts have been made, including one attempt in 2004, which established a full Sanhedrin of over 70 members, though its validity has not been widely accepted.

The relevance of the Sanhedrin in Jewish law cannot be underestimated, as it is the only juridical body in Israel having the statutory and constitutional authority and power to render a verdict of capital punishment to would-be offenders,^[3] and it is solely authorized to send forth the people to a battle waged of free choice.^[4]

^ Maimonides (1965). Mishnah, with Maimonides' Commentary (Seder Nezīqīn) (in Hebrew). Vol. 2. Translated by Yosef Qafih. Jerusalem: Mossad Harav Kook. p. 102 (Sanhedrin 1:3). OCLC 233308346.
^ Maimonides, Sefer Mishneh Torah (Maimonides' Code of Jewish Law) (in Hebrew), Hil. Sanhedrin 4:11
^ Danby, H., ed. (1977), The Mishnah, Oxford: Oxford University Press, p. 383 (Sanhedrin 1:4), ISBN 0-19-815402-X
^ Danby, H., ed. (1977), The Mishnah, Oxford: Oxford University Press, p. 383 (Sanhedrin 1:5), ISBN 0-19-815402-X

[1] Maimonides (1965). Mishnah, with Maimonides' Commentary (Seder Nezīqīn) (in Hebrew). Vol. 2. Translated by Yosef Qafih. Jerusalem: Mossad Harav Kook. p. 102 (Sanhedrin 1:3). OCLC 233308346.

[2] Maimonides, Sefer Mishneh Torah (Maimonides' Code of Jewish Law) (in Hebrew), Hil. Sanhedrin 4:11

[3] Danby, H., ed. (1977), The Mishnah, Oxford: Oxford University Press, p. 383 (Sanhedrin 1:4), ISBN 0-19-815402-X

[4] Danby, H., ed. (1977), The Mishnah, Oxford: Oxford University Press, p. 383 (Sanhedrin 1:5), ISBN 0-19-815402-X

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