Hello, my name is binyomin. I have recently been asked to prepare a website for the 'developing sanhedrin' called thesanhedrin.org.

I am doing a lot of catching up and trying to collect the information that people want to know and get it answered either on the 'sanhedrin'
website or its associated forums.

There are many pages on this forum which discuss the attempt to restablish the sanhedrin in eretz yisroel, can anyone help me by summarizing the points raised here? Any questions that need to be addressed that are not already at the website http://www.thesanhedrin.org/en or its forum http://www.eretzyisroel.org/forums?

I am not directly associated with the Beith Din, but am an assistant to R' Dov Shtein

How are you guys any different than those that the Brisker Rav blasted for trying to open such an organization in his day?

I am not a spokesman for the beith din. But I think the information you want is posted at the website.

In short, this is the fourth attempt in the last hundred and fifty years to try according to halacha, but this time is different in that there has been much more interaction with gedolei yisroel, and for the first time the gedolim have chosen to wait and see rather than oppose it for various reasons.

I am collecting information myself and hope to document the last four attempts (1538, 1830, 1901 and 1949), and their halachic complications, on the website soon.

I couldn't find anything there that dealt with this issue

The steps leading to the formation of the current Beis din are listed on the website. The historical facts on previous attempts and their halachic ramifications I am still in the process of collecting and I will B"EH publish soon.

In my own opinion, some striking differences between the current attempt and Rabbi Yehudah Leib Maimon's efforts in 1949, (that were opposed by many Gadolim including the Brisker Rav) are:

- The current Beis Din is trying to base its formation on the Rambam;
Rabbi Maimon based his efforts on the Israeli Chief Rabbinate.
- This Beis Din is trying to base itself on the re-establishment of Semikha
according to the Rambam; Rabbi Maimon never intended to reestablish Semikha (AFAIK)
- Hundreds of the most influential and scholarly Rabbis living in Eretz Yisroel
were involved in the selection of a Samukh from among the Rabbonim of the Eidas Hareidi; Rabbi Maimon never got beyond proposals (AFAIK)
- Rabbi Maimon was aligned closely with the Mizrachi movement;
This Beis Din is not aligned with any party, and is open to any scholar*
- Rabbi Maimon saw his Sanhedrin as part of the Israeli government;
This Beis Din is not only independent, but opposes the Israeli government
on several halachic grounds.
- Leading Rabbonim opposed Rabbi Maimon's efforts;
Leading Rabbonim have supported or adopted a "wait and see" attitude to
this Beis Din.

* The leadership of the developing Sanhedrin says they are still in a transitional phase, and every one of them has agreed to step aside the moment a more knowledgeable scholar should step forward.

Rather than trying to replace Hareidi leadership, as the Brisker Rav said Rabbi Maimon was trying to do, this Beis Din is wide open to any Torah scholar. They have tried to create a framework according to one interpretation of the Rambam in which they hope, over time, Hareidi leadership will be represented by the best Rabbinic scholars sitting on the Beis Din.

I hope to write more about this on the website in the future, as I collect more information.

Rav Chaim, is anything on the above mentioned website worth reading?

Perhaps these

The idea behind the restoration of the Great Court, and [a brief introduction to] the halachic foundations for operation
http://www.thesanhedrin.org/en/main/authority.html

Current members of the Sanhedrin
http://www.thesanhedrin.org/en/main/officers.html

The Mahari Beirav and Beis Yosef's attempt to restore semicha in 1538, and its halachic implications
http://eretzyisroel.org/forums/viewtopic.php?p=209

The website is still under construction, but perhaps this is a start. If you are looking for something else, please let me know.