Mordecai Kornfeld wrote-
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________________________________________________________________Megilah 16
The dates recorded in the Megilah
are based on what Mordechai thought them to be, and not on what they actually were declared to be by the court in Eretz Yisrael. In fact, Mordechai may never have found out what day the month was declared to be in Eretz Yisrael that year! (M. Kornfeld)<<
Dear Rav Kornfeld,
Before I go into the sugya, please just clarify what you mean by the Beis Din in Eretz Yisrael.
During this period of history was there a Bais Din in Eretz Yisrael? I wonder who they could have possibly been?
Thanks in advance.
Behokara
Rav Viener
The Ramban on 2a writes that most of the Jews were living in Eretz Yisrael at the time of Mordecai. Even if only a few thousand were there (as the Ramban seems to imply on 11a, perhaps contradicting himself), from the group that came there with Zerubavel, at the times of Korash, that was still enough for a large Beis Din to be convened.
Chag Same'ach,
-Mordecai
Hi Rabbi Kornfeld,
Was not Mordecai one of the members of the 71 beis din and therefore understood all the languages?
regards,
Harry C.
Even though Mordechai was indeed a member of the Sanhedrin, a Beis Din outside of Eretz Yisrael cannot enact new laws as long as there is a Beis Din in Eretz Yisrael. Therefore, Mordechai also needed to rely on the Beis Din in Eretz Yisrael in order to know the establishment of the months. (Mordechai himself was among those who returned to Eretz Yisrael with Zerubavel, as the Vilna Ga'on comments on the verse in Esther 2:6.)
Best regards,
Mordecai