The Arba'ah Turim reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Arba'ah Turim

Arba'ah Turim (Hebrew: "Four rows"), also abbreviated as Tur, is an important work of Jewish law, composed by Rabbi Yaakov ben Asher ("Ba'al ha-Turim") of Spain (1270-ca 1340). In it, the author traces practical Jewish law from the Torah text and the dicta of the Talmud through the Rishonim. In contradistinction to Mishneh Torah (by Maimonides), it only deals with the areas of Jewish law that are applicable in exile.

The Arba'ah Turim (literally: four rows, as on the High Priest's breastplate):

• Orach Chayim - laws of prayer and synagogue, Sabbath, holidays
• Yorei De'ah - laws of shechita, kashrut
• Even ha-Ezer - laws of marriage, divorce
• Choshen Mishpat - laws of finance, financial responsibility, damages (personal and financial), interest

Commentaries on Arba'ah Turim include Beth Joseph by Rabbi Joseph Caro, Beth Chadash by Rabbi Yoel Sirkis and a number of other Acharonim. The influential work of halacha, Shulkhan Arukh is a condensation of Beth Joseph and follows the basic structure of the Arba'ah Turim, including its division in four sections and chapters.

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