A Popular Dictionary of Judaism
Compilations of Jewish law were made in the time of the *gaonim. The Halakot Pesukot and Halakot Gedolot were collected in the 8th Century and were arranged in the order of the *talmudic tractates. The Code of Isaac Alfasi (11th/12th Century) was a synopsis of talmudic law which was still applicable to the life of the community.
*Maimonides’ Mishneh Torah (12th Century) included all talmudic law. Jacob ben Asher’s Arbaah Turim (14th Century) was the basis of the *Shulhan Arukh of Joseph Caro. Moses Isserles added addenda (Mappah) to the Shulhan Arukh to reflect current *Ashkenazi practice. Later *posekim (authorities) have given *responsa and interpreted the law according to the needs of their own community and thus contributed to its codification.
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