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Aruch HaShulchan is a work of Jewish scholarship, written by Rabbi Yechiel Michel Epstein
Yechiel Michel Epstein

Yechiel Michel Epstein , often called "the Aruch ha-Shulchan" , was a Rabbi and posek in Lithuania. His surname is often preceded by ha-Levi, as he descended from a family of Levites....
. The title "Aruch HaShulchan" ("laying the table") is a clear allusion to the Shulchan Aruch
Shulchan Aruch

The Shulchan Aruch is a codification, or written manual, of halacha , composed by Rabbi Yosef Karo in the 16th century. Together with its commentaries, it is considered the most authoritative compilation of halakha since the Talmud....
 ("the set table"), the authoritative work of halacha on which it draws. It is also an allusion to Aroch ha-Shulchan (Isaiah 21:5).

In Aruch HaShulchan, Epstein cites the source of each law as found in the Talmud
Talmud

The Talmud is a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Halakha, Jewish ethics, customs, and history. It is a central text of mainstream Judaism....
 and Maimonides
Maimonides

Moses Maimonides, also known as Rabbi Moses ben Maimon , the Rambam, and Musa ibn Maymun , was born in C?rdoba, Spain, Spain on March 30, 1135, and died in Egypt on December 13, 1204.....
, and states the halakhic decision as found in the Shulchan Aruch
Shulchan Aruch

The Shulchan Aruch is a codification, or written manual, of halacha , composed by Rabbi Yosef Karo in the 16th century. Together with its commentaries, it is considered the most authoritative compilation of halakha since the Talmud....
 with the glosses of Rema.






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Aruch HaShulchan is a work of Jewish scholarship, written by Rabbi Yechiel Michel Epstein
Yechiel Michel Epstein

Yechiel Michel Epstein , often called "the Aruch ha-Shulchan" , was a Rabbi and posek in Lithuania. His surname is often preceded by ha-Levi, as he descended from a family of Levites....
. The title "Aruch HaShulchan" ("laying the table") is a clear allusion to the Shulchan Aruch
Shulchan Aruch

The Shulchan Aruch is a codification, or written manual, of halacha , composed by Rabbi Yosef Karo in the 16th century. Together with its commentaries, it is considered the most authoritative compilation of halakha since the Talmud....
 ("the set table"), the authoritative work of halacha on which it draws. It is also an allusion to Aroch ha-Shulchan (Isaiah 21:5).

In Aruch HaShulchan, Epstein cites the source of each law as found in the Talmud
Talmud

The Talmud is a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Halakha, Jewish ethics, customs, and history. It is a central text of mainstream Judaism....
 and Maimonides
Maimonides

Moses Maimonides, also known as Rabbi Moses ben Maimon , the Rambam, and Musa ibn Maymun , was born in C?rdoba, Spain, Spain on March 30, 1135, and died in Egypt on December 13, 1204.....
, and states the halakhic decision as found in the Shulchan Aruch
Shulchan Aruch

The Shulchan Aruch is a codification, or written manual, of halacha , composed by Rabbi Yosef Karo in the 16th century. Together with its commentaries, it is considered the most authoritative compilation of halakha since the Talmud....
 with the glosses of Rema. When he deems it necessary, he also mentions the views of other Rishonim
Rishonim

"Rishon" redirects here. For the preon model in particle physics, see Harari Rishon Model. For the Israeli town, see Rishon LeZion.Rishonim were the leading Rabbis and Posek who lived approximately during the 11th to 15th centuries, in the era before the writing of the Shulkhan Arukh and following the Geonim....
 (early, pre-1550 authorities), and especially Acharonim
Acharonim

Acharonim is a term used in Halakha and history, to signify the leading rabbis and Posek living from roughly the 16th century to the present....
 (later authorities), occasionally disagreeing with the latter.

The work follows the structure of the Tur
Tur

Tur or TUR can stand for:* Arba'ah Turim, a work of Jewish law* Tur * Turkish language * West Caucasian Tur, a species of goat* Trans-urethral resection, a surgical procedure...
 and the Shulchan Aruch: A division into four large parts, subdivided into parallel chapters (simanim) that match in all three works. These are further subdivided into paragraphs (se'ifim), but the latter do not match in the three works (the Tur has no official se'ifim at all, and the se'ifim of the Shulchan Aruch do not match that of Aruch HaShulchan).

In his work, Epstein tends to take a lenient view (le-kula), but decidedly without compromising in any form on the power and rule of Jewish law. When established custom is in conflict with theoretical halakha, Epstein tends to side with local custom, to a greater extent than is the case in works such as the Mishnah Berurah
Mishnah Berurah

Mishnah Berurah is a work of halakha by Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan, better known as The Yisrael Meir Kagan . It is a commentary on Orach Chayim, the first section of the Shulchan Aruch , summarizing the opinions of the Acharonim on that work....
.

Aruch HaShulchan is often quoted alongside the Mishnah Berurah
Mishnah Berurah

Mishnah Berurah is a work of halakha by Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan, better known as The Yisrael Meir Kagan . It is a commentary on Orach Chayim, the first section of the Shulchan Aruch , summarizing the opinions of the Acharonim on that work....
, a work composed earlier by Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan
Yisrael Meir Kagan

Yisrael Meir Kagan sobriquet as The Chofetz Chaim was an influential Eastern European rabbi, Halakha, and ethics whose works continue to be widely influential in Jewish life....
 (the Chafetz Chaim). Indeed, the Aruch HaShulchan refers in a number of places to the Mishnah Berurah. Due to the latter's popularity in the yeshiva
Yeshiva

Yeshiva or yeshivah , or metivta or mesivta ) also frequently referred to as a Beth midrash, Talmudical Academy, Rabbinical Academy or Rabbinical School is an institution unique to classical Judaism for Torah study, the study of Talmud, Rabbinic literature and History of responsa....
 world, the Mishnah Berurah is often considered authoritative over Aruch HaShulchan by yeshiva graduates. However, many people (including Rabbi Yosef Eliyahu Henkin
Yosef Eliyahu Henkin

Rabbi Yosef Eliyahu Henkin was a prominent Orthodox Judaism rabbi in the United States.He was born in Belorussia, and studied at the Slutzker Yeshiva under Rabbi Isser Zalman Meltzer....
 and Rabbi Yehuda Pearl) have famously held that the Aruch HaShulchan is more authoritative, since its author was the Rabbi of a community, and since it was printed after the Mishnah Berurah. Also, Aruch HaShulchan has a much wider scope than the Mishnah Berurah.

Editions


The work was originally published during the author's lifetime in numerous small volumes that appeared from 5644-5653 (1884-1893), beginning with Choshen Mishpat, at the beginning of which the author's introduction is found. Many volumes were reprinted posthumously by his daughter.

Images of the first edition have been reprinted dozens of times to this day. These reprints usually appear in eight volumes, which mostly reflect the division of volumes in the Vilna edition of the Shulchan Aruch
Shulchan Aruch

The Shulchan Aruch is a codification, or written manual, of halacha , composed by Rabbi Yosef Karo in the 16th century. Together with its commentaries, it is considered the most authoritative compilation of halakha since the Talmud....
 (with the exception of Yoreh Deah). The page numbering in the reprints still reflects the smaller volumes of the original printing.

A ninth volume was published in 1992 by Rabbi Simcha Fishbane, who was given permission by the Israeli Bar-Ilan family, descendants of the author, to print 36 previously unpublished chapters on the laws of oaths (Hilkhot Nedarim, Yoreh Deah 203-239). These chapters were found in manuscripts by the author's own hand, along with various sermons that were published together in the same volume.

Another, longer section of Yoreh Deah, which consists of 60 sections on laws connected to idolatry (123-182), is still lost.

The first completely new edition of Aruch HaShulchan appeared in 5766 (2006), by "Oz Vehadar" publishers in New Square, New York
New Square, New York

New Square is an Hasidim Political subdivisions of New York State#Village in the Ramapo, New York, Rockland County, New York, New York, United States located north of Hillcrest, New York; east of Viola, New York; south of New Hempstead, New York and west of New City, New York....
. This edition adds comparisons to rulings by the Mishnah Berurah
Mishnah Berurah

Mishnah Berurah is a work of halakha by Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan, better known as The Yisrael Meir Kagan . It is a commentary on Orach Chayim, the first section of the Shulchan Aruch , summarizing the opinions of the Acharonim on that work....
 in Orach Chaim. It does not contain the laws of oaths (Yoreh Deah 203-239) previously published by Fishbane.

Aruch HaShulchan He'Atid


Epstein also wrote a similar work entitled Aruch HaShulchan he'Atid (Laying the Table of the Future), a parallel work to Aruch HaShulchan summarising and analysing the laws that will apply in Messianic
Messiah

Messiah literally means "anointed ".In Jewish messiah tradition and Jewish eschatology, messiah refers to a future monarch of United Monarchy from the Davidic line, who will rule the people of Israelite#The Twelve Tribes, and herald the Messianic Age of global peace....
 times. Indeed, some of these laws, such as those relating to agriculture and farming, apply today for those living in the Land of Israel
Land of Israel

For other uses, see Israel The Land of Israel is the region which, according to the Hebrew Bible, was promised by God to the descendants of Abraham through his son Isaac and to the Israelites, descendants of Jacob, Abraham's grandson....
.

See also

  • Kaf hachaim
    Kaf hachaim

    Kaf Hachayim is the title of two widely cited codes of Jewish law. It may refer to the Kaf Hachayim by Rabbi Yaakov Chaim Sofer or an earlier work by Rabbi Hayim Palaggi....
     by Rabbi Yaakov Chaim Sofer
    Yaakov Chaim Sofer

    Yaakov Chaim Sofer was an Orthodox Judaism rabbi, Kabbalist, Talmudist and posek . Sofer is author of the work of halakha titled Kaf hachaim, by which title he is also known....
     - a contemporaneous work discussing Orach Chayim
    Orach Chayim

    Orach Chayim is a section of Rabbi Jacob ben Asher's compilation of Halakha , Arba'ah Turim. This section treats all aspects of Jewish law primarily pertinent to the Hebrew calendar ....
     and some of Yoreh De'ah
    Yoreh De'ah

    Yoreh De'ah is a section of Rabbi Jacob ben Asher's compilation of halakha , Arba'ah Turim. This section treats all aspects of Jewish law not pertinent to the Hebrew calendar, finance, torts, marriage, divorce, or sexual conduct....
     in light of the Rishonim
    Rishonim

    "Rishon" redirects here. For the preon model in particle physics, see Harari Rishon Model. For the Israeli town, see Rishon LeZion.Rishonim were the leading Rabbis and Posek who lived approximately during the 11th to 15th centuries, in the era before the writing of the Shulkhan Arukh and following the Geonim....
     and Acharonim
    Acharonim

    Acharonim is a term used in Halakha and history, to signify the leading rabbis and Posek living from roughly the 16th century to the present....
    .
  • Mishnah Berurah
    Mishnah Berurah

    Mishnah Berurah is a work of halakha by Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan, better known as The Yisrael Meir Kagan . It is a commentary on Orach Chayim, the first section of the Shulchan Aruch , summarizing the opinions of the Acharonim on that work....
     by Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan
    Yisrael Meir Kagan

    Yisrael Meir Kagan sobriquet as The Chofetz Chaim was an influential Eastern European rabbi, Halakha, and ethics whose works continue to be widely influential in Jewish life....
     - a gloss
    Gloss

    A gloss is a brief summary of a word's meaning, equivalent to the dictionary entry of that word, but only a word or two in length. It is typically used for the meaning of a word in another language, and hence a simple translation....
     summarizing the opinions of the Acharonim
    Acharonim

    Acharonim is a term used in Halakha and history, to signify the leading rabbis and Posek living from roughly the 16th century to the present....
     on Orach Chayim
    Orach Chayim

    Orach Chayim is a section of Rabbi Jacob ben Asher's compilation of Halakha , Arba'ah Turim. This section treats all aspects of Jewish law primarily pertinent to the Hebrew calendar ....
    .
  • Kitzur Shulchan Arukh by Shlomo Ganzfried
    Shlomo Ganzfried

    Rabbi Shlomo Ganzfried was an Orthodox Judaism rabbi and posek best known as author of the work of Halakha , the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch , by which title he is also known....


External links

  • Aruch HaShulhan at Hebrew Wikitext (Hebrew text)
  • - Daily study cycle at
  • (PDF)
  • (GIF
    GIF

    The Graphics Interchange Format is a Raster graphics that was introduced by CompuServe in 1987 and has since come into widespread usage on the World Wide Web due to its wide support and portability....
    )