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") on a Beth Din ("court of Jewish law"). Hebrew (עִבְרִית or עברית, ‘Ivrit) is a Semitic language of the Afro-Asiatic language family spoken by more than seven million people in Israel and Jewish communities around the world. ... The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) is a system of phonetic notation devised by linguists to accurately and uniquely represent each of the wide variety of sounds (phones or phonemes) used in spoken human language. ... Halakha (Hebrew: הלכה; also transliterated as Halakhah, Halacha, Halakhot and Halachah) is the collective corpus of Jewish religious law, including biblical law (the 613 mitzvot) and later talmudic and rabbinic law as well as customs and traditions. ... Rabbi (Classical Hebrew רִבִּי ribbÄ«;; modern Ashkenazi and Israeli רַבִּי rabbÄ«) in Judaism, means teacher, or more literally great one. The word Rabbi is derived from the Hebrew root-word RaV, which in biblical Hebrew means great or distinguished, (in knowledge). In the ancient Judean schools (and among Sefaradim today) the sages... Halakha (Hebrew: הלכה; also transliterated as Halakhah, Halacha, Halakhot and Halachah) is the collective corpus of Jewish religious law, including biblical law (the 613 mitzvot) and later talmudic and rabbinic law as well as customs and traditions. ... A Rabbi (Classical Hebrew רִבִּי ribbī; modern Ashkenazi and Israeli רַבִּי rabbī) is a religious Jewish scholar who is an expert in Jewish law. ... A beth din (בית דין, Hebrew: house of judgment, plural battei din) is a rabbinical court of Judaism. ...

The decision of a posek is known as a psak din or psak halakha ("ruling of law"; pl. piskei din, piskei halakha) or simply a "psak". In Hebrew, פסק is the root implying to "stop" or "cease" - the posek brings the process of legal debate to finality. Piskei din are generally recorded in the responsa literature. The root is the primary lexical unit of a word, which carries the most significant aspects of semantic content and cannot be reduced into smaller constituents. ... Note: This is based on an entry from the 1906 public domain Jewish Encyclopedia The responsa literature, known in Hebrew as Sheelot U-teshuvot (questions and answers), is the body of written decisions and rulings given by rabbis to questions addressed to them. ...

Formulating a ruling (psak din)

A posek will base a psak din on a study of all relevant precedents in light of a careful analysis of the underlying legal principles. The Posek will therefore be thoroughly versed in rabbinic literature and must be a master Talmudist. Precedent, sometimes authority, is the legal principle or rule created by a court which guides judges in subsequent cases with similar issues or facts. ... Legal Doctrine is a framework, set of rules, or procedural steps, often established through precedence in the common law, through which judgments can be determined in a given legal case. ... Rabbinic literature, in the broadest sense, can mean the entire spectrum of Judaisms rabbinic writing/s throughout history. ... Tractate Brachos, folio 2a The Talmud (תלמוד) is a record of rabbinic discussions of Jewish law, ethics, customs, and stories, which are authoritative in Jewish tradition. ...

In formulating his ruling, the Posek will have studied the application of the halakha through consideration of all relevant legal precedents as recorded in the responsa literature - and all relevant codified law (with an emphasis on the Shulkhan Arukh) - and will have mastered the underlying principles in that area through study of the relevant Talmudic tractates with commentaries. Precedent is the principle in law of using the past in order to assist in current interpretation and decision-making. ... Note: This is based on an entry from the 1906 public domain Jewish Encyclopedia The responsa literature, known in Hebrew as Sheelot U-teshuvot (questions and answers), is the body of written decisions and rulings given by rabbis to questions addressed to them. ... Halakha (Hebrew: הלכה; also transliterated as Halakhah, Halacha, Halakhot and Halachah) is the collective corpus of Jewish religious law, including biblical law (the 613 mitzvot) and later talmudic and rabbinic law as well as customs and traditions. ... The Shulkhan Arukh (Hebrew: Prepared Table), by Rabbi Yosef Karo is considered the most authoritative compilation of Jewish law since the Talmud. ... Tractate Brachos, folio 2a The Talmud (תלמוד) is a record of rabbinic discussions of Jewish law, ethics, customs, and stories, which are authoritative in Jewish tradition. ...

This analysis will entail tracing the development of the corresponding legal material in the Rishonim (early Middle age rabbinic authorities, such as Maimonides or Rashi) through the Shulkhan Arukh (the "Code of Jewish Law"), and finally a close analysis of the works of the Acharonim (rabbinic authorities from about the 1500s onwards) discussing the halakha as recorded in the Shulkhan Arukh. Implication or entailment is used in propositional logic and predicate logic to describe a relationship between two sentences or sets of sentences. ... Rishonim (ראשונים Hebrew - sing. ... Commonly used image indicating one artists conception of Maimonidess appearance Maimonides (March 30, 1135–December 13, 1204) was a Jewish rabbi, physician, and philosopher in Spain and Egypt during the Middle Ages. ... Rashi Rashi רשי, an acronym for Rabbi Solomon ben Isaac (Hebrew: רבי שלמה בן יצחק) or Shlomo Yitzchaki, (February 22, 1040 – July 17, 1105) is one of Judaisms classic meforshim (Bible and Talmud commentators), and wrote the first comprehensive commentaries on the Tanakh (the Hebrew Bible) and Talmud. ... The Shulkhan Arukh (Hebrew: Prepared Table), by Rabbi Yosef Karo is considered the most authoritative compilation of Jewish law since the Talmud. ... Acharonim (Hebrew - sing. ...

The role of the Posek

Orthodox Judaism

In Orthodox Judaism poskim will not overrule a specific law, unless based on an earlier authority: a posek will generally extend a law to new situations, but will not change the Halakha; see further under Orthodox Judaism. (Thus for example, some Halakhic rulings related to electricity when it was new, were derived from rulings concerning another form of human-managed energy, "fire", but that view was subsequently modified as the nature of electricity was clarified when used as an electrical circuit.) Orthodox Judaism is the stream of Judaism which adheres to a relatively strict interpretation and application of the laws and ethics first canonized in the Talmud (The Oral Law) and later codified in the Shulkhan Arukh (Code of Jewish Law). It is governed by these works and the Rabbinical commentary... Orthodox Judaism is the stream of Judaism which adheres to a relatively strict interpretation and application of the laws and ethics first canonized in the Talmud (The Oral Law) and later codified in the Shulkhan Arukh (Code of Jewish Law). It is governed by these works and the Rabbinical commentary... Orthodox Judaism is the stream of Judaism which adheres to a relatively strict interpretation and application of the laws and ethics first canonized in the Talmud (The Oral Law) and later codified in the Shulkhan Arukh (Code of Jewish Law). It is governed by these works and the Rabbinical commentary... An electrical network or electrical circuit is an interconnection of analog electrical elements such as resistors, inductors, capacitors, diodes, switches and transistors. ...

Poskim play an integral role in Haredi Judaism and Orthodox Judaism. Particularly in the Haredi world, each community will regard one of its poskim as its Posek HaDor ("Posek of the present Generation"). For Lithuanian-style Haredi world it is probably Rabbi Yosef Shalom Eliashiv. For the Sephardi Jews it is probably Rabbi Ovadia Yosef. Hasidic Jews rely on their own Rebbes or leading posek appointed by their Rebbes. Modern Orthodox Jews may select a posek on a more individual rather than a communal basis, although customs vary. Haredi or Charedi Judaism, often referred to as Ultra-Orthodox Judaism, is the most theologically conservative form of Orthodox Judaism. ... Orthodox Judaism is the stream of Judaism which adheres to a relatively strict interpretation and application of the laws and ethics first canonized in the Talmud (The Oral Law) and later codified in the Shulkhan Arukh (Code of Jewish Law). It is governed by these works and the Rabbinical commentary... Haredi or Charedi Judaism, often referred to as Ultra-Orthodox Judaism, is the most theologically conservative form of Orthodox Judaism. ... Rabbi Y.S. Eliashiv Yosef Shalom Eliashiv (יוסף שלום אלישיב), (b. ... Sephardi Jews (ספרדי, Standard Hebrew Səfardi, Tiberian Hebrew ardî; plural Sephardim: ספרדים, Standard Hebrew Sfaradim, Tiberian Hebrew ) are a subgroup of Jews originating in the Iberian Peninsula, generally defined in contrast to Ashkenazi Jews. ... Bold textOvadia Yosef (born Abdullah Youssef in 1920) is an Israeli Orthodox Jewish rabbi, Talmud scholar and a recognized authority in halakha (Jewish Law). He is the former Sephardic chief rabbi of the State of Israel and is the current spiritual leader of the Shas political party in Israel. ... Hasidic Judaism (from the Hebrew: Chasidut חסידות, meaning piety, from the Hebrew root word chesed חסד meaning loving kindness) is a Haredi Jewish religious movement. ... Rebbe which means master, teacher, or mentor is the pronunciation by Ahskenazic Jews of the Hebrew word רבי. Its transliteration should be Rebbi, but the i (eeh sound) is rarely stressed, rendering its pronounciation as the a in America, hence Rebbe. ... Modern Orthodox Judaism (or Modern Orthodox, also known as Modern Orthodoxy and sometimes abbreviated as MO) is a movement within Orthodox Judaism that attempts to synthesize traditional observance and values with the secular modern world. ...

Conservative Judaism

Conservative Judaism and Masorti Judaism may re-interpret or even change a law through a formal argument. There are a some poskim in the Conservative movement, e.g. Louis Ginzberg and David Golinkin. In addition, the Conservative movement's Rabbinical Assembly maintains a Committee on Jewish Law and Standards, whose decisions are accepted as authoritative within the Conservative movement. The rulings of any one individual rabbi are considered less binding than a consensus ruling. This article refers to Conservative (Masorti) Judaism in the United States. ... Masorti means traditional in Hebrew. ... Originally set up as the alumni association of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America (JTS), the Rabbinical Assembly (RA) is the official, international body of Conservative rabbis, with some 1400 members. ... The Committee on Jewish Law and Standards is the central authority on halakha (Jewish law and tradition) within Conservative Judaism; it is one of the most active and widely know committees on the Conservative movements Rabbinical Assembly. ...

Reform Judaism

Poskim are not found in Reform Judaism and Reconstructionist Judaism, as these movements stress individual autonomy for interpretation of biblical and oral law. Nevertheless, since these movements consider Jewish law for various decisions, responsa on halakhah have been written by some Reform Rabbis, including Solomon Freehof and Walter Jacob. Full text collections of Reform responsa are available on the movement's website. Reform Judaism can refer to (1) the largest denomination of Judaism in America and its sibling movements in other countries, (2) a branch of Judaism in the United Kingdom, and (3) the historical predecessor of the American movement that originated in 19th Century Germany. ... Reconstructionist Judaism is a movement of Judaism with a very liberal set of beliefs: an individuals personal autonomy should generally override traditional Jewish law and custom, yet also take into account communal consensus, modern culture is accepted, traditional rabbinic modes of study, as well as modern scholarship and critical...

List of Orthodox poskim and major works

• Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (1910-1995, Minchat Shlomo)
• Yehezkel Abramsky (1886-1976)
• Ben Ish Chai (Yosef Chaim) (1832-1909, Rav Pealim)
• Avraham Danzig (1748-1820, Chayei Adam)
• Yosef Shalom Eliashiv (1910 - )
• Yechiel Michel Epstein (1829-1907, Aruch ha-Shulchan)
• Moshe Feinstein (1895-1985, Iggerot Moshe)
• Shlomo Ganzfried (1804-1886, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch)
• Chaim Ozer Grodzinski (1863-1940, Achiezer)
• Yisrael Meir Kagan (1838-1933, Mishnah Berurah)
• Avraham Yeshayahu Karelitz (1878-1953, Chazon Ish)
• Chaim Kreiswirth (1918-2001)
• Yechezkel Landau (1713-1793, Noda bi-Yehudah)
• Shneur Zalman of Liadi (1745-1812, Shulchan Aruch ha-Rav)
• Yehoshua Neuwirth (Shemiras Shabbos Kehelichasah)
• Moshe Sacks (Matnas Moshe)
• Yaakov Chaim Sofer (1870-1939, Kaf ha-Chaim)
• Yonasan Steif, (?-1958)
• Vilna Gaon (1720-1797)
• Eliezer Waldenberg (1917-, Tzitz Eliezer)
• Yitzchok Yaakov Weiss (1902-1989, Minchas Yitzchok)
• Ovadia Yosef (1920 - , Yabbia Omer)

For a listing of major works of responsa by author, see the Bar Ilan University Responsa project website [1]. Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach July 20, 1910 (23 Tammuz 5670)- February 20, 1995 (20 Adar 5755), was a renowned rabbi and Rosh Yeshiva. ... Rabbi Yehezkel Abramsky, 1886-1976, was one of the Worlds most eminent rabbis of the 20th Century. ... Yosef Chaim (1832 - 1909) was a Hakham and a Sephardic Rabbi, authority on Jewish law (Halakha) and Kabbalist. ... Rabbi Avraham Danzig (1748-1820) was a decisor and codifier, best known as the author of the works of Jewish law Chayei Adam and Chochmat Adam. ... Rabbi Y.S. Eliashiv Yosef Shalom Eliashiv (יוסף שלום אלישיב), (b. ... Rabbi Yichiel Michel Epstein Yechiel Michel Epstein (1829-1907), often called the Aruch ha-Shulchan (after his main work, Arukh HaShulkhan), was a Rabbi and posek (authority in Jewish law) in Lithuania. ... Rabbi Moshe Feinstein Rabbi Moshe Feinstein (1895-1986) was an Orthodox Rabbi who was world renowned for his expertise in halakha (Jewish Law) and was the de facto supreme rabbinic authority for the Orthodox Jewry of North America. ... Shlomo Ganzfried (Solomon ben Joseph Ganzfried; Hungary, 1804 to 1886) was an Orthodox rabbi and posek best known as author of the work of Halakha (Jewish law), the Kitzur Shulkhan Arukh (Hebrew: קיצור שולחן ערוך, Abbreviated Shulkhan Arukh), by which title he is also known. ... Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzinski HaGaon HaRav Chaim Ozer Grodzinski (1863-1940) was a world renowned pre-war Dayan and Posek (Halachic decisor) in Vilna. ... Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan, known as the Chofetz Chaim. ... Rabbi Avraham Yeshayahu Karelitz, The Chazon Ish Avraham Yeshayahu Karelitz (also Yishayahu, Yeshayah, Yeshayah, Yishaya - in English Abraham Isaiah Karelitz) (1878-1953) known by his pen name as the Chazon Ish (in Hebrew: Vision [of] Man), was a Lithuanian born Orthodox rabbi who became leader of Haredi Judaism in Israel. ... Rav Kreiswirths sermon at the laying of the foundation stone of the old-age home in 1955 Rav Kreiswirth in later life A fraction of the mourners at the Ravs funeral in Israel HaGaon Harav Chaim Kreiswirth (1918-2001) served as the longtime Chief Rabbi of Antwerp and... Rabbi Yechezkel ben Yehuda Landau (8 October 1713-29 April 1793) was an influential 18th century authority in halakha (Jewish law). ... Portrait of Shneur Zalman of Liadi (1745-1812) founder of Chabad Lubavitch and author of Tanya and Shulchan Aruch HaRav. ... Rabbi Moshe Sacks, also known as the Matnas Moshe, is a prominent rabbi belonging to the Satmar Hassidic movement. ... Yaakov Chaim Sofer (1870-1939) was an Orthodox rabbi, Talmudist and posek (decisor of Torah law). Sofer is author of the work on halakha (Jewish law) titled Kaf Hachaim, by which title he is also known. ... Rabbi Yonasan Steif (1877-1958) was the chief rabbi and Av Beth Din of Budapest, Hungary, before the Second World War, a man whom Rabbi Moshe Feinstein referred to as the gadol hador (spiritual leader of the generation). ... Elijah Ben Solomon, the Vilna Gaon The Vilna Gaon (April 23, 1720 – October 9, 1797) was a prominent Jewish rabbi, Talmud scholar, and Kabbalist. ... Rabbi Eliezer Yehuda Waldenberg (b. ... Rabbi Yitzchok Yaakov Weiss, (1902-1989), also known as the Minchas Yitzchak, was a prominent Dayan, Halachic authority and Talmudic scholar. ... Bold textOvadia Yosef (born Abdullah Youssef in 1920) is an Israeli Orthodox Jewish rabbi, Talmud scholar and a recognized authority in halakha (Jewish Law). He is the former Sephardic chief rabbi of the State of Israel and is the current spiritual leader of the Shas political party in Israel. ...

See also

• Halakha
• Talmud
• Oral Torah
• Gemara
• Rishonim
• Acharonim
• Responsa
• History of Responsa

Halakha (Hebrew: הלכה; also transliterated as Halakhah, Halacha, Halakhot and Halachah) is the collective corpus of Jewish religious law, including biblical law (the 613 mitzvot) and later talmudic and rabbinic law as well as customs and traditions. ... Tractate Brachos, folio 2a The Talmud (תלמוד) is a record of rabbinic discussions of Jewish law, ethics, customs, and stories, which are authoritative in Jewish tradition. ... When Moses received all of the laws that would define the Jewish tradition, he also received the explanation of these laws. ... The Gemara (גמרא - from gamar: Hebrew [to] complete; Aramaic [to] study) is a component of the Talmud, comprising the rabbinical commentaries and analysis on the Mishnah, undertaken in the Academies of Palestine and Babylon over a 300 year period to about 500. ... Rishonim (ראשונים Hebrew - sing. ... Acharonim (Hebrew - sing. ... Note: This is based on an entry from the 1906 public domain Jewish Encyclopedia The responsa literature, known in Hebrew as Sheelot U-teshuvot (questions and answers), is the body of written decisions and rulings given by rabbis to questions addressed to them. ... Responsa constitute a special class of rabbinic literature. ...

References

• N. S. Hecht et. al. An Introduction to the History and Sources of Jewish Law, Oxford University Press.
• Louis Jacobs A Tree of Life: Diversity, Creativity, and Flexibility in Jewish Law, second edition 1999, Littman Library of Jewish Civilization.
• Mendell Lewittes Jewish Law: An Introduction, Jason Aronson Inc.
• Authority and Autonomy in Pesikat HaHalacha, nishmat.net
• An introduction to the system of Jewish Law, aish.com
• Jewish Law Research Guide, University of Miami Law Library