Shulkhan Arukh

The Shulkhan Arukh (Hebrew: "Prepared Table"), by Rabbi Yosef Karo is considered the most authoritative compilation of Jewish law since the Talmud. With its commentaries, it is the main authoratitive source of halakha (Jewish law and custom) and often referred to as the Code of Jewish Law.

Later collations

In the late 18th century, there were several attempts to recompile the major halakhic opinions into a simpler, more readily available form. Rabbi Shneur Zalman wrote the Shulchan Aruch HaRav at the behest of the Hasidic leader, Rabbi Dovber of Mezeritch. Rabbi Abraham Danzig was the first in the Lithuanian Jewish community to attempt a summary of the opinions in the abovementioned works in his Chayei Adam and Chochmath Adam. Similar works are Ba'er Heitev and Sha'arei Teshuvah/Pitchei Teshuvah as well as Kitzur Shulchan Aruch (by Rabbi Shlomo Ganzfried of Hungary). Danzig's and Ganzfried's works do not follow the structure of the Shulkhan Arukh.

Related Topics:
18th century - Shneur Zalman - Shulchan Aruch HaRav - Hasidic - Dovber of Mezeritch - Abraham Danzig - Lithuanian Jew - Chayei Adam - Chochmath Adam - Kitzur Shulchan Aruch - Shlomo Ganzfried

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The Mishnah Berurah, the main work of halakha by Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan (the "Chafetz Chaim") is a collation of the opinions of later authorities on Orach Chaim. Arukh HaShulkhan, by Rabbi Yechiel Michel Epstein, is a more analytical work attempting the same task from a different angle. The former, though narrower in scope, enjoys much wider popularity and is considered authoritative by many adherents of Orthodox Judaism, especially among those closely associated with Ashkenazi yeshivas. The Ben Ish Chai and Kaf Ha'Chaim are similar works by Sephardic Rabbis for their communities.

Related Topics:
Mishnah Berurah - Halakha - Yisrael Meir Kagan - Later authorities - Arukh HaShulkhan - Yechiel Michel Epstein - Orthodox Judaism - Ashkenazi - Yeshiva - Ben Ish Chai - Kaf Ha'Chaim - Sephardic

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