(Hebrew. ‘Directives’) Rulings given by scholars. Takkanot are directives made by particular scholars which have the force of *halakhah. Takkanot are thought to have been enacted since the time of the patriarch *Abraham and the *amoraim...

*Halakhic scholars. Traditionally the heads of *yeshivot, the *rabbis and the *avot battei din were regarded as posekim. They were asked by their local communities to lay down halakhic rulings on practical matters. These rulings were only regarded as...

Posek (Hebrew פוסק, IPA: [po·ˈseq], pl. Poskim, פוסקים) is the term in Jewish law for "legal decisor" - a rabbi who decides the Halakha in cases of law where previous authorities are inconclusive. A posek may often serve as a Dayan ("judge")...