Codification of Jewish Law on the Cusp of Modernity

Codes of Jewish law may look similar, but they represent very different ways of thinking about the law.

List of contents

Introduction; 1. Joseph Caro and his codification of Jewish law; 2. A difficult beginning; 3. Rabbi Solomon Luria's legal methodology; 4. Rabbi Moses Isserles's responses; 5. Codification and legal creativity; Conclusion.

About the author

Edward Fram is Associate Professor of Jewish History and Solly Yellin Chair in Lithuanian and Eastern European Jewish Culture at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. His research focuses on the history of Jewish law in the early modern period. He is the author of several award-winning books including Ideals Face Reality (1997) and A Window on their World: The Rabbinic Court Diary of Rabbi Hayyim Gundersheim, Frankfurt am Main, 1773–1794 (2012).

Summary

Aimed at legal historians and students of Jewish law, this work explains how three of the most important codifiers of Jewish law arrived at their decisions and perceived their peers. Placing the works in the context of print and legal humanism, the works exposes differing dynamics of legal decision making.

Product details

• Authors: Edward Fram, Edward (Ben-Gurion University of the Negev Fram, Fram Edward
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press ELT
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 31.03.2022
• EAN: 9781316511572
• ISBN: 978-1-316-51157-2
• No. of pages: 325
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Religion/theology > Judaism; Eastern Europe, RELIGION / Judaism / General, Social & cultural history, Middle East, c 1500 onwards to present day, Judaism: life & practice, Legal History, Social and cultural history, Judaism: life and practice, Early modern history: c 1450/1500 to c 1700, Law & society, Law and society, sociology of law