(39) The Broad Role and Value of the Beth Din … With Rabbi Shlomo Weissmann
Description
We did a recent divorce survey and discussed the findings in episode 37. This episode is the first of several follow-ups on that topic.
The Beth Din of America serves as a national rabbinical court, affiliated with the Rabbinical Council of America and the Orthodox Union. It addresses a broad spectrum of issues and is likely the busiest beth din in the country. (This here are many in the US and experiences vary among them.)
Rabbi Shlomo Weissmann is both a rabbi and a lawyer, having received rabbinic ordination from Yeshiva University and graduated from Columbia Law School.
He oversees BDA operations and also serves as an arbitrator (dayan) and mediator in both civil and religious matters. He frequently write, speaks and teaches on how Jewish law intersects with contemporary secular law. Under his direction, the Beth Din has promoted the use and administration of the halakhic prenuptial agreement viewed as an effective solution to the agunah problem by preventing cases of divorce refusal.
Links:
• The BDA and information about the halachic prenup.
• The Nishma Research 2023 Jewish Community Profile (See pages 36-38, which discuss the divorce process)
• Article "Beyond the Get: Why More Divorcing Couples Are Turning to the Beth Din of America," Jewish Link, July 24, 2025.
United States
