About

The Beth Din of America is a rabbinical court that arbitrates and mediates commercial, communal and family disputes, arranges Jewish divorces, resolves contested Get and agunah cases, and issues halachic personal status determinations (including certifications of Jewish status).

Since its inception in 1960, the Beth Din of America has been recognized as one of the nation’s pre-eminent rabbinic courts.

Firmly anchored in the principles of halacha  (Jewish law), the Beth Din has earned a reputation for conducting its affairs with confidentiality, competence, fairness, and integrity.

The Beth Din is affiliated with the Rabbinical Council of America and the Orthodox Union.  It is funded by a combination of fees for services, private donations, and support by communal endowments and institutions. Whenever the Beth Din acts as a neutral in a dispute among parties, the Beth Din discloses to the parties all known potential conflicts of interest.

Leadership

Rabbi Mordechai Willig
Av Beth Din
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Rabbi Mordechai Willig
Av Beth Din

Rabbi Mordechai Willig is the Av Beth Din of the Beth Din of America.  He also serves as the Rabbi Dr. Sol Roth Professor of Talmud and Contemporary Halachah and Segan Rosh Kollel of the Kollel L’Horaah Yadin Yadin at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary of Yeshiva University. Since 1974, Rabbi Willig has been the rabbi of the Young Israel of Riverdale in Riverdale, New York.  He is the author of the four volume Am Mordechai series.

Rabbi Yona Reiss, Esq.
Sgan Av Beth Din
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Rabbi Yona Reiss, Esq.
Sgan Av Beth Din

Rabbi Yona Reiss is the Sgan Av Beth Din of the Beth Din of America, and Av Beth Din of the Chicago Rabbinical Council.  He also serves as a Rosh Yeshiva at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary of Yeshiva University.  Rabbi Reiss is a graduate of Yale Law School, where he served as senior editor of the Yale Law Journal, and worked as an associate for six years at the international law firm of Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton. He was previously the Max and Marion Grill Dean of RIETS, and prior to that he served as Director of the Beth Din of America.  Rabbi Reiss is a member of the editorial board of Tradition, and has published articles in the Wall Street Journal and the New York Law Journal.

Rabbi Shlomo Weissmann, Esq.
Menahel (Director)
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Rabbi Shlomo Weissmann, Esq.
Menahel (Director)

Rabbi Shlomo Weissmann is the Menahel (Director) of the Beth Din of America.  He received rabbinical ordination from RIETS in 2001 and advanced rabbinical ordination (Yadin Yadin) in 2014. He is a graduate of Columbia Law School, where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar. Prior to his association with the Beth Din of America, Rabbi Weissmann worked as an attorney at several prominent law firms, including Debevoise and Plimpton LLP.  In addition to managing the operations of the Beth Din of America, Rabbi Weissmann serves as a frequent arbitrator (dayan) and mediator of cases before the Beth Din.  He also lectures widely about the interface of Jewish and secular law, especially as it relates to rabbinical court arbitration, and is an Adjunct Professor at the Sy Syms School of Business at Yeshiva University.

Rabbi Michoel Zylberman
Sgan Menahel (Associate Director)
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Rabbi Michoel Zylberman
Sgan Menahel (Associate Director)

Rabbi Michoel Zylberman is the Sgan Menahel (Associate Director) of the Beth Din of America. A Yadin Yadin musmach of RIETS, he was a member of the Bella and Harry Wexner Kolel Elyon, and holds an MA from the Bernard Revel Graduate School in Medieval Jewish history.  In addition to his work at the Beth Din of America as an administrator, mesader gittin, and dayan, Rabbi Zylberman serves on the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary faculty as a rosh chabura and functions as the director of geirut for the Rabbinical Council of America.  He is the author of Tov Lev on Masechet Pesachim with an appended Kuntreis Da’at Yehudit on the laws of Gittin and Gerut.

Rabbi Itamar Rosensweig
Chaver Beth Din
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Rabbi Itamar Rosensweig
Chaver Beth Din

Rabbi Itamar Rosensweig is a dayan and chaver beth din at the Beth Din of America, and the editor of its Jewishprudence journal. He is a maggid shiur in the Mazer Yeshiva Program at Yeshiva University and the rav of the Shtiebel of Lower Merion. He received his semikha, yoreh yoreh and yadin yadin, from RIETS, where he was a fellow of the Wexner Kollel Elyon and editor-in-chief of the Beit Yitzchak.

Rabbi Rosensweig received his BA in physics and philosophy from Yeshiva University and an MA and PhD in medieval Jewish history from YU’s Bernard Revel Graduate School. He also holds an MA in Philosophy from Columbia University and a PhD in Philosophy from the University of Pennsylvania. In addition to teaching an advanced Talmud shiur at RIETS, Rabbi Rosensweig is the chair of Jewish studies at the Sy Syms School of Business and an assistant professor of philosophy at Yeshiva College.

 

Cindy Frankel
Director of Operations
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Cindy Frankel
Director of Operations

Cindy Frankel, LMSW, received her Masters in Social Work from the Wurzweiler School of Social Work at Yeshiva University. Prior to coming to the Beth Din of America in 2021, Ms. Frankel held a wide range of social work and administrative positions. She served as the lead social worker at Bnos Malka Academy in Queens, New York, and as program director for the After School Mentor Program at the Bridges for Children Center. In both these positions she supervised staff and volunteer personnel and oversaw numerous facets of the program. Ms. Frankel began her career with Victim Services (now known as Safe Horizons) hosted within Brooklyn Family Court, where she provided counseling, oversaw court ordered supervised visitation and trained and supervised counselors and volunteers.

Dayanim/Arbitrators

Rabbi Kenneth Auman
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Rabbi Kenneth Auman

Rabbi Kenneth Auman is an adjunct professor of Jewish studies at Stern College for Women at Yeshiva University and spiritual leader of the Young Israel of Flatbush, where he has served since 1984.  He has served as president of the Rabbinical Council of America and Vaad Harabonim of Flatbush, established the Kehillah Kashrus Rabbinical Board, served as rabbinic advisor to the Get Organization, and has played an important role in maintaining the Flatbush eruv.  Rabbi Auman received both Yadin Yadin and Yoreh Yoreh semikha from Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary at Yeshiva University.

Rabbi Yosef Bechhofer
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Rabbi Yosef Bechhofer

Rabbi Yosef Gavriel Bechhofer is a prolific author and lecturer.  His published seforim include The Contemporary Eruv: Eruvin in Modern Metropolitan Areas, Bigdei Shesh al Masechta Bava Basra and Bigdei Shesh on Sefer Shoftim.  Rabbi Bechhofer studied at Sha’alvim, Ner Yisroel and both Mirrer yeshivos, and received rabbinic ordination Rabbi Yitzchok Koolitz, Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem, and Rabbi Zalman Nechemiah Goldberg.  He holds an M.S. in Education from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.

Rabbi Donny Besser, Esq.
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Rabbi Donny Besser, Esq.

Rabbi Donny Besser teaches Gemara and Halacha at Ma’ayanot in Teaneck, New Jersey, where he also serves as the Judaic Studies Enrichment Coordinator and as a Mashpia. He helped edit the Masoret HaRav Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah machzorim and a Birkon, whose commentaries incorporate insights of Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik. Rabbi Besser joined the Ma’ayanot faculty in 2005, prior to which he practiced law at Kaye, Scholer for six years. He earned his semicha from the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary of Yeshiva University, and a J.D. from Columbia Law School.

Dr. Norman Blumenthal, Ph.D
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Dr. Norman Blumenthal, Ph.D

Dr. Norman Blumenthal is a licensed clinical psychologist who serves as the Zachter Family Director of Trauma and Crisis Intervention for OHEL and Adjunct Professor at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary and Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, both of Yeshiva University. In private practice in Cedarhurst, New York, Dr. Blumenthal is also the Founder and Chairman of the Board of Education for CAHAL and a past Vice President of NEFESH.

Rabbi Yosef Greenwald
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Rabbi Yosef Greenwald

Rabbi Yosef Greenwald serves as Rav of Khal Dexter Park, a young and vibrant community in Chestnut Ridge in the Monsey area.  He sits as a dayan at a number of batei din, and previously served as a dayan for many years in Yerushalayim and Givaat Zeev.  Rabbi Greenwald is a popular lecturer whose shiurim are known for their clarity, depth and inspirational impact.

 

Rabbi Avraham Kivelevitz
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Rabbi Avraham Kivelevitz

Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Kivelevitz serves as the Rosh Beis Medrash at the Yeshiva of Newark, located at the offices of IDT. In that capacity he hosts a podcast featuring a Shiur Klali in Tshuvos and Poskim. He is also a Maggid Shiur for Dirshu International in Talmud and Halacha. Rabbi Kivelevitz received his Semicha from Yeshivat Keter Torah in Mexico City, and trained in Choshen Mishpat with Rabbi Gedaliah Dov Schwartz, z”l, formerly the Av Beth Din of the Beth Din of America. He previously served as Mashgiach Ruchani at the Beren Academy in Houston, Texas, and has taught honors talmud classes at a number of high schools.

Rabbi Dani Rapp, Esq.
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Rabbi Dani Rapp, Esq.

Rabbi Daniel Rapp received advanced ordination (Yadin Yadin) from the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary of Yeshiva University.  He is a graduate of Columbia University School of Law, where he was twice named a Harlan Fiske Stone scholar for academic excellence, and was articles editor of the Columbia Business Law Review.  Rabbi Rapp is Visiting Assistant Professor of Talmud at the Irving I. Stone Beit Medrash Program of Yeshiva University and Associate Dean of Students of Undergraduate Torah Studies. Rabbi Rapp is a frequent dayan and mediator at the Beth Din of America.

 

Rabbi Yona Reiss, Esq.
Sgan Av Beth Din
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Rabbi Yona Reiss, Esq.
Sgan Av Beth Din

Rabbi Yona Reiss is the Sgan Av Beth Din of the Beth Din of America, and Av Beth Din of the Chicago Rabbinical Council.  He also serves as a Rosh Yeshiva at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary of Yeshiva University.  Rabbi Reiss is a graduate of Yale Law School, where he served as senior editor of the Yale Law Journal, and worked as an associate for six years at the international law firm of Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton. He was previously the Max and Marion Grill Dean of RIETS, and prior to that he served as Director of the Beth Din of America.  Rabbi Reiss is a member of the editorial board of Tradition, and has published articles in the Wall Street Journal and the New York Law Journal.

Rabbi Itamar Rosensweig
Chaver Beth Din
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Rabbi Itamar Rosensweig
Chaver Beth Din

Rabbi Itamar Rosensweig is a dayan and chaver beth din at the Beth Din of America, and the editor of its Jewishprudence journal. He is a maggid shiur in the Mazer Yeshiva Program at Yeshiva University and the rav of the Shtiebel of Lower Merion. He received his semikha, yoreh yoreh and yadin yadin, from RIETS, where he was a fellow of the Wexner Kollel Elyon and editor-in-chief of the Beit Yitzchak.

Rabbi Rosensweig received his BA in physics and philosophy from Yeshiva University and an MA and PhD in medieval Jewish history from YU’s Bernard Revel Graduate School. He also holds an MA in Philosophy from Columbia University and a PhD in Philosophy from the University of Pennsylvania. In addition to teaching an advanced Talmud shiur at RIETS, Rabbi Rosensweig is the chair of Jewish studies at the Sy Syms School of Business and an assistant professor of philosophy at Yeshiva College.

 

Professor Chaim Saiman, Esq.
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Professor Chaim Saiman, Esq.

Professor Chaim Saiman is Professor of Law at Villanova Law School, and has served as Gruss Visiting Professor of Talmudic Law at both Harvard Law School and the University of Pennsylvania Law School, a visiting fellow at Princeton University and as a visiting professor at the University of Toronto, Bar-Ilan, Hebrew University and IDC faculties of law.  He is the author of Halakhah: The Rabbinic Idea of Law, published by Princeton University Press.  Professor Saiman earned his J.D. from Columbia University School of Law, and studied for a number of years at Yeshivat Har-Etzion (Gush) and Yeshivat Kerem B’Yavneh in Israel.  He also served as a law clerk to Judge Michael McConnell on the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Rabbi Ezra Schwartz
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Rabbi Ezra Schwartz

Rabbi Ezra Schwartz is a Rosh Yeshiva at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary of Yeshiva University, where he teaches in the semikha (ordination) program.  Previously, Rabbi Schwartz served as bochen, overseeing student placement, and as Assistant to the President for Research and Communications during the administration of Yeshiva University’s President Richard M. Joel.

Rabbi Harold Sutton
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Rabbi Harold Sutton

Rabbi Harold Sutton received semicha from Hakham Ovadia Yosef, Hakham Meir Mazuz and Hakham Shimon Alouf. He served as the Rabbi of Congregation Bnei Yitzhak in Brooklyn, NY for 15 years, as well as Assistant Rosh Yeshiva of Magen David Yeshiva for ten years. He serves as the Rosh Yeshiva of Magen David Yeshiva, Rosh Yeshiva of the Sephardic Rabbinical College, Rabbi of Congregation Hochma U’Mussar, and Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Moreshet Yerushalayim.

Rabbi Michael Taubes
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Rabbi Michael Taubes

Rabbi Michael Taubes serves as the Rosh Yeshiva at The Marsha Stern Talmudical Academy/Yeshiva University High School for Boys. He received rabbinic ordination from RIETS at Yeshiva University, where he studied for several years under HaRav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik, zt’l. He is the author of The Practical Torah and has worked as an author and editor for ArtScroll/Mesorah Publications. Rabbi Taubes serves as the rabbi of Kehillas Zichron Mordechai in Teaneck, NJ.

Dr. David Pelcovitz, Ph.D
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Dr. David Pelcovitz, Ph.D

Dr. David Pelcovitz, Ph.D., holds the Gwendolyn and Joseph Straus Chair in Psychology and Education at Yeshiva University’s Azrieli Graduate School, where he also teaches pastoral psychology courses and is special assistant to the President of the University. Before assuming his position on the faculty of Yeshiva University, Dr. Pelcovitz was a clinical professor of psychology at New York University School of Medicine and director of psychology at North Shore University Hospital-NYU School of Medicine for over two decades. He has published and lectured extensively on a variety of topics including parenting, child abuse, trauma and loss, and the psychological impact of divorce.

Dr. Gavriel Fagin, Ph.D
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Dr. Gavriel Fagin, Ph.D

Dr. Gavriel Fagin, Ph.D, LCSW serves as Director of Tikunim Counseling Services. He holds a degree in both Forensic Psychology and Social Work, as well as a designation as a Sexual Offender Treatment Specialist (SOTS), Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP), and Problem Gambling Specialist. Dr. Fagin is frequently called upon by secular and religious institutions to conduct extensive evaluations and risk determinations regarding allegations of sexual misconduct, fitness of duty, and other forensically-oriented matters. He has served as an expert witness in both secular and rabbinic courts reagring issues of childhood sexual abuse, and as an evaluator or Dayan on custody and visitation matters for batei dinim throughout the tri-state area.

Rabbi Shlomo Weissmann, Esq.
Menahel (Director)
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Rabbi Shlomo Weissmann, Esq.
Menahel (Director)

Rabbi Shlomo Weissmann is the Menahel (Director) of the Beth Din of America.  He received rabbinical ordination from RIETS in 2001 and advanced rabbinical ordination (Yadin Yadin) in 2014. He is a graduate of Columbia Law School, where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar. Prior to his association with the Beth Din of America, Rabbi Weissmann worked as an attorney at several prominent law firms, including Debevoise and Plimpton LLP.  In addition to managing the operations of the Beth Din of America, Rabbi Weissmann serves as a frequent arbitrator (dayan) and mediator of cases before the Beth Din.  He also lectures widely about the interface of Jewish and secular law, especially as it relates to rabbinical court arbitration, and is an Adjunct Professor at the Sy Syms School of Business at Yeshiva University.

Rabbi Mordechai Willig
Av Beth Din
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Rabbi Mordechai Willig
Av Beth Din

Rabbi Mordechai Willig is the Av Beth Din of the Beth Din of America.  He also serves as the Rabbi Dr. Sol Roth Professor of Talmud and Contemporary Halachah and Segan Rosh Kollel of the Kollel L’Horaah Yadin Yadin at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary of Yeshiva University. Since 1974, Rabbi Willig has been the rabbi of the Young Israel of Riverdale in Riverdale, New York.  He is the author of the four volume Am Mordechai series.

Rabbi Michoel Zylberman
Sgan Menahel (Associate Director)
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Rabbi Michoel Zylberman
Sgan Menahel (Associate Director)

Rabbi Michoel Zylberman is the Sgan Menahel (Associate Director) of the Beth Din of America. A Yadin Yadin musmach of RIETS, he was a member of the Bella and Harry Wexner Kolel Elyon, and holds an MA from the Bernard Revel Graduate School in Medieval Jewish history.  In addition to his work at the Beth Din of America as an administrator, mesader gittin, and dayan, Rabbi Zylberman serves on the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary faculty as a rosh chabura and functions as the director of geirut for the Rabbinical Council of America.  He is the author of Tov Lev on Masechet Pesachim with an appended Kuntreis Da’at Yehudit on the laws of Gittin and Gerut.