NCJ Number
15288
Date Published
1972
Length
285 pages
Annotation
A HISTORICAL DESCRIPTION OF NEW YORK'S JEWISH CONCILIATION BOARD, AN EXTRA-LEGAL COMMUNITY COURT THAT HAS BEEN SETTLING FAMILY FIGHTS AND MISCELLANEOUS DISPUTES FOR OVER FORTY YEARS.
Abstract
IN ITS ATTEMPTS TO TEMPER LAW WITH COMPASSION WHILE ADMINISTERING JUSTICE, THE BOARD ALWAYS HAS AS ITS PRIMARY GOAL 'SHOLOM BAIS,' PEACE IN THE HOUSE. ITS TRADITIONS GO BACK TO BIBLICAL TIMES, FOR THE RABBINICAL COURT IS ONE OF THE OLDEST IDEAS OF JEWISH COMMUNAL LIFE. IN NEW YORK THE JEWISH CONCILIATION BOARD WAS INITIATED TO HELP STRAIGHTEN OUT THE LEGAL TANGLES OF IMMIGRANTS WHOSE CASES WERE SOMETIMES MISUNDERSTOOD OR MISREPRESENTED. RABBIS, LAWYERS, BUSINESSMEN, AND SOMETIMES PSYCHIATRISTS, LISTEN TO BOTH SIDES OF EACH DISPUTE AND PASS JUDGMENT. THOSE WHO GO BEFORE THE BOARD DO SO VOLUNTARILY, AND ARE MORALLY BOUND TO ABIDE BY ITS DECISIONS.