Dear Rabbi
If a member takes their synagogue to a Din Torah can the synagogue refuse to go and if so what recourse do the member and Beth Din have against that synagogue?
Bryon
Dear Bryon,
Just between you and me – is it the Rabbi’s sermon or the Chazan’s dirge? How much are you suing for? Can they put a price on such mental anguish? You want to sue the ladies guild for the lack of fishballs and diluted whisky? The synagogue hierarchy is typically obligated to respond if they’re summoned by the Beth Din. If they refuse to attend they need to state their reasons. The Beth Din then reserves the right to refer them to another Beth Din they may be more willing to attend – or, failing that, even a civil court. There are also other strict measures that could be enforced when one ignores a Beth Din summons. But I would strongly suggest the pursuit of a compromise in the first instance.
Just between you and me – is it the Rabbi’s sermon or the Chazan’s dirge? How much are you suing for? Can they put a price on such mental anguish? You want to sue the ladies guild for the lack of fishballs and diluted whisky? The synagogue hierarchy is typically obligated to respond if they’re summoned by the Beth Din. If they refuse to attend they need to state their reasons. The Beth Din then reserves the right to refer them to another Beth Din they may be more willing to attend – or, failing that, even a civil court. There are also other strict measures that could be enforced when one ignores a Beth Din summons. But I would strongly suggest the pursuit of a compromise in the first instance.