Acharonim

Acharonim (Hebrew - sing. Acharon) literally "the later ones", is a term used in Jewish law and history, to signify the leading Rabbis and Poskim living from roughly the 16th century to the present.

Related Topics:
Hebrew - Jewish law - Rabbi - Poskim

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The acharonim follow the Rishonim, the "first ones" - the rabbinic scholars between the 13th and the 16th century following the Geonim and preceding the Shulkhan Arukh. The publication of the Shulkhan Arukh thus marks the transition from the era of Rishonim to that of Acharonim.

Related Topics:
Rishonim - Geonim - Shulkhan Arukh

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

As Jewish law is hierarchic and precedent-based, the opinions of the Acharonim are valid insofar as they as based on those of a Rishon.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~