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.
The Gett Process
What is the process for obtaining a gett at Melbourne Beth Din?
Arranging the Date and Clarifying the names
1. Once both parties have completed and returned all the documentation,
the Beth Din Office will contact you to offer a date for the gett procedure. Gittin normally take place on a Thursday afternoon, between 2:30pm and 5:00pm. For the standard gett process (see below) the man will need to be present for about 90 minutes, and the woman for about 30 (see On The Day, and see Alternatives below).
2. Some time before the set date, a Dayan will telephone you to clarify the
way that your name should be written in the gett. This is an extremely important aspect of the writing of the gett and the Dayan will ask you about various names that have been applied to you, including nicknames. He will need to know similar information about your father. If you miss the Dayan’s phone call, it is extremely important that you call him back so that the names can be clarified in advance. This is so that the documentation to be used on the day of the gett can be prepared in good time.
Arranging the Date and Clarifying the names
1. Once both parties have completed and returned all the documentation,
the Beth Din Office will contact you to offer a date for the gett procedure. Gittin normally take place on a Thursday afternoon, between 2:30pm and 5:00pm. For the standard gett process (see below) the man will need to be present for about 90 minutes, and the woman for about 30 (see On The Day, and see Alternatives below).
2. Some time before the set date, a Dayan will telephone you to clarify the
way that your name should be written in the gett. This is an extremely important aspect of the writing of the gett and the Dayan will ask you about various names that have been applied to you, including nicknames. He will need to know similar information about your father. If you miss the Dayan’s phone call, it is extremely important that you call him back so that the names can be clarified in advance. This is so that the documentation to be used on the day of the gett can be prepared in good time.
Arranging the Date and Clarifying the names
1. Once both parties have completed and returned all the documentation,
the Beth Din Office will contact you to offer a date for the gett procedure. Gittin normally take place on a Thursday afternoon, between 2:30pm and 5:00pm. For the standard gett process (see below) the man will need to be present for about 90 minutes, and the woman for about 30 (see On The Day, and see Alternatives below).
2. Some time before the set date, a Dayan will telephone you to clarify the
way that your name should be written in the gett. This is an extremely important aspect of the writing of the gett and the Dayan will ask you about various names that have been applied to you, including nicknames. He will need to know similar information about your father. If you miss the Dayan’s phone call, it is extremely important that you call him back so that the names can be clarified in advance. This is so that the documentation to be used on the day of the gett can be prepared in good time.
Alternatives to the Standard Procedure
The procedure above is the one that should ideally be followed. However there are alternative procedures that may be followed if circumstances require it.
