chain of transmission - halacha part ii

8/14/2019 Chain of Transmission - Halacha Part II

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CHAIN OF MESORAH

HALACHA

CONNECTED TO SINAI

PART II

BASIC APPROACH TO STANDARD TEXTS

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Text of Rabbi Moses Maimonides (Rambam)

Kesef Mishneh - Rabbi Yosef Karo (1488-1575)Rabbi Karo was born in Toledo, Spain. Rabbi Joseph Karo left Spain in 1492 as a

result of the Spanish expulsion of the Jews, and settled with his family in Turkey.In 1536, he emigrated to Israel and became the chief rabbi of Safed, an important

center of Jewish learning and industry. and he died in Safed, Israel. He is also

called Maran ("our master") or Ha-Mechaber ("the Author," i.e. the halachic

author par excellence). Magid Mishneh - Rav Vidal of Tolosa

A student of the Rashba. His commentary included sources for the laws, plusexplaining why some laws preceded others and why some were omitted. He is

credited with dying a martyrs death.

Mishneh LaMelech Rabbi Yehudah Rosannes (1657-1727)Second to the King (based on Esther 10,3), is a collection of original interpretations

on a variety of issues

Lechem Mishneh - Rabbi Avrohom di Boton (1545-1588)Rav Avraham ben Moshe di Boton was born in in Salonika. His main work was a

commentary on the Yad Chazakah, Lechem Mishneh (Twice as much bread, see

Shmos 16,22). He traced the sources of the Rambams rulings attempting to

resolve the difficulties between the Yad Chazakah and the Talmud. After startinghis work, he came into contact with the sefer Kesef Mishneh, and then avoided

duplications.

Migdal Oz - Rabbi Shem Tov ben Avrohom Ibn Gaon (1282-1340)Migdal Oz (Strong Tower see Bereshis 9, 51) was the first work to systemically

identify sources for the Yad Chazakah. He defended the work from attack by

critics, cited Rambams responsa, and corrected textual errors.

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ILLUSTRATION - I

MISHNEH TORAH

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ILLUSTRATION - II

TUR

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Text of Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim - Rabbi Yosef Karo & Rabbi Moshe Isserles

Taz - Rabbi Dovid ben Shmuel HaLevi (1586-1667)Son-in-law of the Bach, he was the Rav of Posen. Author of the Turei Zahav (Golden

Rows) a major commentary on most of Shulchan Aruch. He attempted to reestablishthe original decisions of Rabbi Yosef Karo, refuting criticisms and bringing order to

the commentaries. He often disagreed with the Shach.

Magen Avrohom - Rabbi Avrohom Gombiner (1637-1683)Rav Avraham Avli ben Chaim HaLevi Gombiner was born in Kalish in 1633. His main

work, the Magen Avraham is one of the main commentaries to the Shulchan Aruch.He also authored a commentary to the works of the Ba'alei Tosafot on Seder Nezikin.

Machtzis HaShekel Rabbi Shmuel ben Natan HaLevi Klein (1724-1806)

Shaari Teshuvah Rabbi Chaim Mordechai MargolisGates of Repentance, provides a digest of responsa written after the Shulchan Aruch.

Beer Heitiv Rabbi Yehudah ben Shimon Askenazi (1730-1770)Maggid of Lvov and Rabbi of Frankfort

Hagahas Raka Rabbi Akiva Eiger (1761-1837)Rav Akiva ben Moshe Eiger was born in Hungary. His many works included

commentaries and glosses on the Talmud, a commentary on the Shulchan Aruch, a setof responsa, and the Gilyon HaShas, a minor commentary on the Talmud which

references sources around the Talmud and now appears on the standard page of theBabylonian Talmud. Among his many students was Rav Tzvi Hirsch Kalischer, one of

the early Rabbis of Neo-Orthodoxy (the forerunner of today's Orthodox Judaism). He

passed away in Posen.

Beiur HaGra Rabbi Eliyahu ben Shlomo Zalman Vilna Gaon (1720-1797)Rav Eliyahu ben Shlomo Zalman of Vilna, known as the Vilna Gaon or G"RA, is one of

the most dominating figures of halachic Judaism since the Shulchan Aruch. Born in

Brisk (Brest-Litovsk), he was the author of countless works in all areas of Rabbinic

literature, includingAderet Eliyahu on the Torah, a commentary on the Mishna, and

commentaries on both the Babylonian and Palestinian Talmuds. He also wrotecommentaries on the Mishne Torah, as well as on the Shulchan Aruch. Demonstrating

his versatility and familiarity with all areas of Jewish knowledge, he penned a work

on the Sefer Yetzirah, one of the main kabbalistic books. He was the student of thePnei Moshe, as the teacher of, among others, Rav Chaim Soloveitchik of Volozhin

Levush Sgrad (Robes of Office) Rabbid Dovid Shlomo Eibeschutz ( -1806)

Yad Ephraim Rabbi Ephraim Zalman (1762-1828)Rabbi Ephraim was one of the greatest Talmudic scholars of his time. In his

youth he served briefly in the rabbinate but then settled in Brody and went intobusiness. Though highly successful his main interest remained Torah learning

and scholarship and his many published works established him in the firstrank of scholars. He corresponded with scholars such as Rabbi EzekielLandau. Rabbi Ephraim established a yeshiva in his house and served as itshead. One of his disciples was Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Chayot. Rabbi Ephraimbecame the rare prototype of one who successfully combined great wealthwith great learning. He was well-versed in Kabbalah. He was involved in acontroversy with Rabbi Levi Isaac of Berdichev over Yehoshua HeschelZorefs book HaZoref. Rabbi Ephraim demonstrated its Shabbatean characterand was thus able to prevent its publication.Rabbi Ephraims most popularwork is the Mateh Ephraim containing the laws of Elul and Tishrei.

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ILLUSTRATION - III

SHULCHAN ARUCH ORACH CHAIM

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Text of Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah - Rabbi Yosef Karo & Rabbi Moshe Isserles


Rows) a major commentary on most of Shulchan Aruch. He attempted to reestablish

the original decisions of Rabbi Yosef Karo, refuting criticisms and bringing order to

the commentaries. He often disagreed with the Shach.

Sifsei HaChachumim Shach - Rabbi Shabse ben Meir HaCohen (1622-1663)Rav Shabbtai ben Meir HaKohein was born in Vilna. His main workSiftei Kohein, is one

of the two main commentaries on the Shulchan Aruch (along with Taz). He also

authored theNekudot HaKesef, a response to the Taz (the name of this work is a pun

on Shir HaShirim 1:11).


the most dominating figures of halachic Judaism since the Shulchan Aruch. Born in

Brisk (Brest-Litovsk), he was the author of countless works in all areas of Rabbinic

literature, includingAderet Eliyahu on the Torah, a commentary on the Mishna, andcommentaries on both the Babylonian and Palestinian Talmuds. He also wrote

commentaries on the Mishne Torah, as well as on the Shulchan Aruch. Demonstrating



Chidushi Raka Rabbi Akiva Eiger (1761-1837)

Rav Akiva ben Moshe Eiger was born in Hungary. His many works includedcommentaries and glosses on the Talmud, a commentary on the Shulchan Aruch, a set

of responsa, and the Gilyon HaShas, a minor commentary on the Talmud whichreferences sources around the Talmud and now appears on the standard page of the

Babylonian Talmud. Among his many students was Rav Tzvi Hirsch Kalischer, one of

the early Rabbis of Neo-Orthodoxy (the forerunner of today's Orthodox Judaism). Hepassed away in Posen.


Pischei Teshuvah Rav Tzvi Hirsch ben Yaacov Eisenstadt (1813-1863)Rav of Utian. Pischei Teshuvah (Opportunities of repentance) a supplement to the

Shulchan Aruch providing the current responsa after its publication.

Pri Megadim Rav Yosef ben Meir Teumim (1727-1792)Two-part commentary on Shulchan Aruch. Also author of Rosh Yosef, chidushim on

several parts of Talmud.

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ILLUSTRATION - IV

SHULCHAN ARUCH YOREH DEAH

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Text of Shulchan Aruch Even HaEzer - Rabbi Yosef Karo & Rabbi Moshe

Isserles

Bais Shmuel Rabbi Shmuel Phoebus (1650-1700)

Chelkas Mechokek Rabbi Moshe Lim (1605-1658)Chelkas Mechokek (A Portion of a Ruler see Devarim 33, 21) was the first commentary

written on Even HaEzer. It provides commentary and resolves apparent contridictions.

It concludes on paragraph #126 due to the authors death.



Rows) a major commentary on most of Shulchan Aruch. He attempted to reestablish

the original decisions of Rabbi Yosef Karo, refuting criticisms and bringing order to

the commentaries. He often disagreed with the Shach. Hagahas Raka Rabbi Akiva Eiger (1761-1837)

Rav Akiva ben Moshe Eiger was born in Hungary. His many works includedcommentaries and glosses on the Talmud, a commentary on the Shulchan Aruch, a set

of responsa, and the Gilyon HaShas, a minor commentary on the Talmud which

references sources around the Talmud and now appears on the standard page of the

Babylonian Talmud. Among his many students was Rav Tzvi Hirsch Kalischer, one ofthe early Rabbis of Neo-Orthodoxy (the forerunner of today's Orthodox Judaism). He

passed away in Posen.


the most dominating figures of halachic Judaism since the Shulchan Aruch. Born inBrisk (Brest-Litovsk), he was the author of countless works in all areas of Rabbinic

literature, includingAderet Eliyahu on the Torah, a commentary on the Mishna, and

commentaries on both the Babylonian and Palestinian Talmuds. He also wrotecommentaries on the Mishne Torah, as well as on the Shulchan Aruch. Demonstrating



Pri Megadim Rav Yosef ben Meir Teumim (1727-1792)Two-part commentary on Shulchan Aruch. Also author of Rosh Yosef, chidushim on

several parts of Talmud.

Ezer Mekodesh Rabbi Avrohom Dovid Wahrman (1771-1841)Also authored Eshel Avrohom to Orach Chaim and Kesef HaDedoshim to Choshen

Mishpat

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ILLUSTRATION - VI

SHULCHAN ARUCH CHOSHEN MISHPAT

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

Kaplan, Aryeh THE HANDBOOK OF JEWISH THOUGHT

Schimmel, H. Chaim THE ORAL LAW

Fendel, Zechariah LEGACY OF SINAI

Fendel, Zechariah CHARTING THE MESORAH

Bendory, Dovid THE UNBROKEN CHAIN OF TORAH

Kantor, Mattis CODEX JUDAICA, CHRONOLOGICAL INDEX OF JEWISH HISTORY

Artscroll History Series THE RISHONIM

Artscroll History Series THE EARLY ACHARONIM

Biographies of Gedolim http://www.tzemachdovid.org/gedolim/index._alphabetical.html

Mini-Biographies of Gedolim http://www.chaburas.org/

Biographies of Rabbis http://www.ou.org/about/judaism/rabbis/default.htm

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http://www.tzemachdovid.org/gedolim/index._alphabetical.htmlhttp://www.chaburas.org/http://www.ou.org/about/judaism/rabbis/default.htmhttp://www.tzemachdovid.org/gedolim/index._alphabetical.htmlhttp://www.chaburas.org/http://www.ou.org/about/judaism/rabbis/default.htm

chain of transmission - halacha part ii

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