Writing by Dr. Dannielle Blumenthal

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The 5 Beis Din Documents In The Kohn/Stein Divorce

Document #1

  • Source (Issuing Body): Beth Din Tzedek Beis Aharon (The Rabbinical Court of Beis Aharon), Brooklyn, NY. It is noted as being under the leadership/presidency of Rabbi Moshe Yoel Wolkin.
  • Date of Signature: 23rd of Sivan, 5782 (\text{כ”ג לחדש סיון תשפ”ב}). In the Gregorian calendar, this corresponds to June 22, 2022.
  • Signatories (The Dayanim/Judges): 1. Moshe Yoel Wolkin (\text{משה יואל וואלקין}) 2. Yosef Chaim Golding (\text{יוסף חיים גאלדינג}) 3. Yitzchok Meir Pupa (\text{יצחק מאיר פופא})

Translation of the Text

Rabbinical Court (Beth Din Tzedek) Beis Aharon In memory of the Torah genius Rabbi Aharon Wolkin, of righteous memory Former Rabbi of Beis Aharon Under the Presidency of his grandson, The Rabbi and Gaon, Rabbi Moshe Yoel Wolkin, may he live long and good years, Amen.

Writ of Refusal (Ktab Seruv)

After we have sent several summonses to Mr. Raphi Stein, at the request of his wife, to come and litigate with her in a Rabbinical Court (Beis Din) of Israel according to our holy Torah, and we also clarified to him that there is no substance to what he claimed in order to evade [litigation] from coming and signing a Shtar Berurin (arbitration agreement) and litigating according to Jewish law, and he did not come; and we warned him, yet he conducted himself as if there is no judgment in Israel.

Therefore, we have seen fit to declare regarding the aforementioned Mr. Raphi Stein that he is a refusenik to law (Mesarev Le’Din), and to issue against him this Writ of Refusal (Ktab Seruv) until he repents from his rebellion, and comes to a Rabbinical Court to litigate according to law and justice. One should act toward him with all the severity and distancing specified in Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh Deah, Chapter 334. And anyone who has the ability to influence him, it shall be considered a great mitzvah.

And this is signed with the truth on the 23rd day of the month of Sivan, 5782, here in Brooklyn, New York.

Declared: Moshe Yoel Wolkin Declared: Yosef Chaim Golding Declared: Yitzchok Meir Pupa

Document #2

  • Source (Issuing Body): Beth Din of America (\text{בית דין דאמריקא}), New York, NY.
  • Date of Signature: June 1, 2023 (which corresponds to the Hebrew date written on the document: 12th of Sivan, 5783 / \text{י”ב סיון תשפ”ג}).
  • Signatory: Rabbi Mordechai Willig, serving as the Av Beth Din (Head of the Rabbinical Court). The document contains both his handwritten signature and an electronic DocuSign confirmation.

Transcription / Text of the Document

Shtar Seruv

Raphael Stein, of [Address Redacted], Monsey, NY 10952, has been summoned to the Beth Din of America by Adeena Kohn, regarding her request for a Jewish divorce (Get).

Raphael Stein has failed to appear before the Beth Din of America, or before an alternative beth din that is halachically appropriate in the view of the Beth Din of America, for the purpose of giving a Get or submitting to beth din adjudication of Adeena Kohn’s request for a Get.

Raphael Stein is thus deemed a mesarev lavo ledin, one who declines to appear in front of the Jewish courts according to Jewish law, and Adeena Kohn is free to pursue any remedies permitted by secular law in accordance with Jewish law.

[Signature] Rabbi Mordechai Willig Av Beth Din

י”ב סיון תשפ”ג

Electronic signature confirmation: DocuSigned by Rabbi Mordechai Willig | 6/1/2023

Documents 3-5

3. Decree and Excommunication Against Rabbi Willig (Ktab Beit Din)

  • Date: July 4, 2025 (Friday, 8th of Tammuz, 5785 / \text{ח’ תמוז תשפ”ה})
  • Source: Beis Din Tzedek Mishpat Hatorah, Monsey, NY.
  • Signatory: Aharon Friedman (Court Scribe), on behalf of the Beis Din.
  • Summary: In retaliation for the previous rulings, this Monsey-based court issues a severe decree against Rabbi Mordechai Willig (the head of the Beth Din of America). They accuse him of issuing a false Seruv against Raphael Stein and “spilling innocent blood.” The document declares Rabbi Willig to be under rabbinical excommunication (Chayav Nidui) and commands the public to distance themselves from him.

4. Nullification of Refusal (Bittul Seruv)

  • Date: July 7, 2025 (11th of Tammuz, 5785 / \text{י”א תמוז תשפ”ה})
  • Source: Beis Din Tzedek Mishpat Hatorah, Monsey, NY.
  • Signatory: Head of the Court (signature script) and on behalf of the panel.
  • Summary: This court officially declares the Beth Din of America’s Seruv against Rabbi Raphael HaLevi Stein to be null, void, and defamatory. They declare Stein to be completely law-abiding (Tzayit Dina Gamur), asserting that he is ready to litigate in an Israeli rabbinical court as soon as his wife drops her secular court proceedings.

5. Official Warning to the Wife (Hataraat Beit Din)

  • Date: July 8, 2025 (12th of Tammuz, 5785 / \text{י”ב תמוז תשפ”ה})
  • Source: Beis Din Tzedek Mishpat Hatorah, Monsey, NY.
  • Signatory: Aharon Friedman (Court Scribe), on behalf of the Beis Din.
  • Summary: The court issues a direct legal warning to Mrs. Adeena Stein (née Kohn). They order her to immediately withdraw her secular lawsuits against her husband and litigate in Beis Din. The document warns that any Get (divorce) obtained through secular court coercion will be halachically invalid, and threatens to issue a counter-Seruv against her if she does not comply.