Restoring beis din as the first forum
for disputes among Jews
An association and think tank serving the beis din world
An association and think tank serving the beis din world
“The world endures on three things — on din, on emes, and on shalom, as it says: Judge truth and the justice of peace in your gates.” Avos 1:18, citing Zechariah 8:16
Emes, shalom, and mishpat are not three separate ideals. Judgment done right produces truth, and truth produces peace. Mishpat Institute takes its name — and its mission — from that teaching.
Halacha directs Jews to resolve their disputes in beis din. Yet today, most disputes among Jews are heard in secular court. This is not, for the most part, a failure of commitment; it is a failure of infrastructure. Batei din vary widely in procedure, evidence practices, and documentation — so parties and their counsel cannot always know what process to expect. And the attorneys whom Jewish clients trust most have never had an institutional partner in the beis din world.
Mishpat Institute is not a beis din, and we do not hear cases. We exist to strengthen the institutions that do — through three initiatives.
Model standards of procedure and evidence for adoption across batei din — covering process, documentation, and award-writing. Shared standards mean predictability for parties, credibility with civil courts, and trust across communities. Standards elevate; they never police.
Lawyers are the gatekeepers of forum choice. Through the Beis Din Pledge, the Institute organizes and equips attorneys who commit to guiding their Jewish clients toward din Torah — with known procedures and enforceable arbitration awards.
Through its journal and white papers, the Institute publishes rigorous work at the intersection of halacha and dispute resolution — earning the confidence of dayanim, attorneys, and courts alike.
The Institute’s work is anchored by a Rabbinic Advisory Board, whose guidance shapes the standards, the scholarship, and the Institute’s direction. Nothing the Institute promotes will ask any beis din — or any party — to compromise on halacha.