Three prominent botei din have decried the
current trend among chareidi Jews of applying to secular
courts in disputes between neighbors without first receiving
written permission to do so from a beis din.
This letter is signed by the prominent botei din
of Jerusalem and Bnei Brak: the beis din of HaRav
Nissim Karelitz; the beis din of HaRav Shmuel Wosner;
and the beis din of the Eida HaChareidis.
The letter states: "Recently this serious transgression
of going to secular courts and of mesira in monetary
issues has become very commonplace. The Shulchan Oruch
refers to this as a very serious sin. Chazal are very
stringent in their assessment of the immensity of the sin and
the greatness of the punishment. Today, many people err and
permit themselves to apply to these courts in disputes
between neighbors. This constitutes informing on one's fellow
to the authorities and giving Jews' money to the secular
court system. All this is liable to result in theft and in
the loss of the money of Jews in violation of the
halocho.
"How great the pain over the affront to Torah when
bnei Torah let secular courts -- which are very far
from yirah and mitzvah observance -- decide in their
disputes."
The botei din also write that there is no
heter to apply to secular authorities without having
first received written permission from a beis din to
do so.
"We also warn those who are involved in building houses,
yards, and the like to ascertain what is permitted prior to
the start of construction and not deviate from what is
permissible according to halocho. Whoever has a
complaint about the activities of his fellow should present
it to a beis din."
