The Beis Din Pledge

A professional code for attorneys — Version 1.0 · Adopted September 2026

What Members Commit To

Lawyers occupy a decisive position in the choice of forum. Attorneys who sign the Beis Din Pledge become Members of Mishpat Institute, adopting five professional commitments:

  1. Counseling. In appropriate disputes, timely and affirmatively counsel the client that din Torah is available and halachically preferred — presenting it as a serious, credible option before commencing civil proceedings on the merits.
  2. Drafting. Where suitable, recommend dispute-resolution clauses designating din Torah in agreements between Jewish parties.
  3. Representation. Be prepared to represent clients competently and zealously in din Torah, with the same professional rigor as litigation or commercial arbitration.
  4. Respect for the Process. Honor the integrity of din Torah, including the finality and enforceability of a psak.
  5. Advancing the Field. Support shared standards of procedure and evidence for batei din, and the Institute’s educational work.

Professional responsibility remains paramount. The choice of forum always belongs to the client. Every commitment is subject to the rules of professional conduct of each jurisdiction in which a Member practices and to the attorney’s independent professional judgment. Membership is not a certification or endorsement of any attorney’s qualifications.

The Pledge — Full Text

Download the Beis Din Pledge (PDF) — Version 1.0, adopted September 2026. Please read the full text before signing below. Key membership terms:

  1. Eligibility (§4.1). Membership is open to attorneys who are Jewish as defined by halacha — born to a Jewish mother, or converted under the auspices of an Orthodox beis din — and admitted and in good standing in at least one jurisdiction. The Institute relies on each Member’s attestation and does not itself adjudicate questions of personal status.
  2. Dues (§4.3). No dues are currently charged.
  3. Directory (§4.4). Members are listed in the public Member directory unless they elect otherwise below.
  4. No legal duties (§5). The Pledge is a voluntary professional commitment — not a contract, and it creates no standard of care and no rights in any third party.

Sign the Pledge

Your signature is recorded by the Institute, which retains execution records. You will receive confirmation of your membership by email.

Batei Din & Scholars

Batei din interested in affiliation and scholars interested in contributing to the journal — tell us who you are and we will follow up personally.