Shulkhan Arukh

Circumcision, when practiced as a rite, has its foundations in the Bible and is therefore practiced by Jews and Muslims and some Christians. Circumcision in the Bible - Introduction. Circumcision has a long history, and is mentioned frequently in the Bible. However, it should be noted that the Bible means different things to different religious groups. For Jews, the Bible consists of the 24 books in Hebrew (and some Aramaic) that are known as the Tanakh (39 books according to Christian numbering; see ...

Including:

• Circumcision in the Bible - Introduction
• Circumcision in the Bible - In the Hebrew Bible
• Circumcision in the Bible - In Judaism
• Circumcision in the Bible - In rabbinic literature
• Circumcision in the Bible - Necessary or not?
• Circumcision in the Bible - Necessity
• Circumcision in the Bible - In the Apocrypha
• Circumcision in the Bible - In Christianity

Read more here: » Circumcision in the Bible: Encyclopedia - Circumcision in the Bible

Rabbi Yaakov Moelin (c. 1365 - 1427) was a Talmudist and posek (authority on Jewish law) best known for his codification of the customs (minhagim) of the German Jews. He is also known as Maharil - the Hebrew acronym for "Our Teacher, the Rabbi, Israel Levi" - as well as Mahari Segal or Mahari Moelin. Maharil's best known work, Minhagim, was as a source of Halakha for HaM ...

Including:

• Yaakov ben Moshe Levi Moelin - Biography
• Yaakov ben Moshe Levi Moelin - Works

Read more here: » Yaakov ben Moshe Levi Moelin: Encyclopedia - Yaakov ben Moshe Levi Moelin

Rabbi Yechezkel ben Yehuda Landau (8 October 1713 – 29 April 1793) was an influential authority in halakha (Jewish law). He is best known for the work Nodah bi-Yehudah, by which title he is also known. Yechezkel Landau - Biography. Landau was born in Opatow, Poland, and attended yeshiva at Vladimir and Brody. In Brody, he was appointed dayan (rabbinical judge) in 1734, and in 1745 he became rabbi of Jampol. While in Jampol, he attempted to mediate between Jacob Emden and Jonathan Eyb ...

Including:

• Yechezkel Landau - Biography
• Yechezkel Landau - Works

Read more here: » Yechezkel Landau: Encyclopedia - Yechezkel Landau

Joseph Isaac Schneersohn was born in Lubavitch, Belarus (then Russian empire). He was appointed as his father's personal secretary at the age of fifteen. In 1897 at the age of seventeen he married a distant cousin Nehama Dina Schneersohn. He was appointed as the first head of the new Tomchei Temimin network of Lubavitch yeshivas in the Russian empire. As he matured, he campaigned for the rights of Jews by appearing before the Czarist authorities in St. Petersburg and Moscow. During the Russo-Japanese War of 1904 he sought relief for J ...

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Joseph Isaac Schneersohn, Joseph Isaac Schneersohn - Early life, Joseph Isaac Schneersohn - Becomes Rebbe, Joseph Isaac Schneersohn - Battling the Bolsheviks, Joseph Isaac Schneersohn - Warsaw to USA, Joseph Isaac Schneersohn - Launch of Lubavitch in the USA, Joseph Isaac Schneersohn - Rebbes of Lubavitch, Joseph Isaac Schneersohn - Time-line of Lubavitcher rebbes

Read more here: » Joseph Isaac Schneersohn: Encyclopedia II - Joseph Isaac Schneersohn - Early life

If his birthplace was Spain, his family probably left for Portugal after the Spanish expulsion in 1492. After the expulsion of the Jews from Portugal, in 1497, Karo went with his parents to Nicopolis in European Turkey, where he received his first instruction from his father, who was himself an eminent Talmudist. He married, first, Isaac Saba's daughter, and, after her death, the daughter of Hayyim Albalag, both of these men being well-known Talmudists. After the death of his second wife he married the daughter of Zechariah Sechsel (or perhaps Sa ...

See also:

Yosef Karo, Yosef Karo - Biography, Yosef Karo - Authority recognized, Yosef Karo - Works, Yosef Karo - Maggid Mesharim, Yosef Karo - Karo's Characteristics

Read more here: » Yosef Karo: Encyclopedia II - Yosef Karo - Biography

Strictures against astrology appear in the official Torah commentary of Conservative Judaism and on the official website of Reform Judaism, and a number of Conservative and Reform rabbis have written against the practice. Commenting on Deuteronomy 18:9-12, Etz Hayim, the official Torah commentary of Conservative Judaism writes "Hence the use of astrology is prohibited (BT Pesachim 113b)." Similarly, Rabbi Simchah Roth, a Conservative Masorti rabbi comments negatively on astrology in his "Halakhah Study Group" session. (Halakhah Study Group, Nov. 18 2003, ...

See also:

Jewish views of astrology, Jewish views of astrology - In the Bible, Jewish views of astrology - Rabbinic rejection of astrology, Jewish views of astrology - Rabbinic acceptance of astrology, Jewish views of astrology - Qualified acceptance; partial skepticism, Jewish views of astrology - In the medieval era, Jewish views of astrology - Moshe Chaim Luzzatto, Jewish views of astrology - Views in the modern era

Read more here: » Jewish views of astrology: Encyclopedia II - Jewish views of astrology - Views in the modern era

Jewish leadership - Biblical leadership Before 70 CE. See related List of Jewish Biblical figures. During the era of the Tanakh, leadership of the Jewish people was governed by Torah principles. There were the heads of the original Hebrew tribes, and then also prophets such as Moses, Jeremiah and Samuel and whose words still as reference points for the believers, judges such as Samson, kings such as David and Solomon, priests of the Temple ...

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Jewish leadership, Jewish leadership - Historic leadership, Jewish leadership - Biblical leadership Before 70 CE, Jewish leadership - Mishnaic Talmudic Middle Ages leadership 70 - 1600s, Jewish leadership - Early modern leadership 1700s-1800s, Jewish leadership - Modern religious leadership after 1800s, Jewish leadership - Decline of rabbinical influence, Jewish leadership - Modern Synagogue leadership, Jewish leadership - Orthodox and Haredi rabbinic leadership, Jewish leadership - Reform Conservative and Reconstructionist leadership, Jewish leadership - Secular leadership, Jewish leadership - Karaite leadership

Read more here: » Jewish leadership: Encyclopedia II - Jewish leadership - Historic leadership

Rabbi Bruna was born in Brno (Bruna), Moravia. He studied under the leading Ashkenazi rabbis of his time - Jacob Weil and Israel Isserlin, who ordained him and spoke very highly of him. "He was a brilliant student, who devoted himself, body and soul, to the study of the Talmud." He was then elected Rabbi of his native town. After the expulsion of the Jews from that city (1454) he settled at Rati ...

See also:

Israel Bruna, Israel Bruna - Biography, Israel Bruna - Works

Read more here: » Israel Bruna: Encyclopedia II - Israel Bruna - Biography

Falk was born in Lublin. He studied under two of the most prominent rabbis of his generation, Solomon Luria and Moses Isserles. He was Rosh Yeshiva in Lemberg and served on the Council of Four Lands. In 1611 Falk issued a bill of divorce "which occasioned lenghty discussions" among the rabbis of the time, including Meir Lublin. Falk was opposed to the reliance on law codes to the exclusion of study of the original sources. Towards this end he composed a series of commentaries on the most influential codes, Rabbi Jacob ben Asher's T ...

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Joshua Falk, Joshua Falk - Biography, Joshua Falk - Note on the name Joshua Falk, Joshua Falk - Works

Read more here: » Joshua Falk: Encyclopedia II - Joshua Falk - Biography

Shlomo Ganzfried - Kitzur Shulkhan Arukh. The Kitzur Shulkhan Arukh in effect summarises the Shulkhan Arukh of Joseph Karo with reference to all subsequent commentaries and incorporating Jewish Hungarian customs up to the 19th century. The title page of the first edition is instructive. The book "is written for God-fearing Jews who are not in a position to study and comprehend the (original full) Shulkhan Arukh and its commentaries, and is composed in a Hebrew that can be easily understood." The Kitzur states what is permi ...

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Shlomo Ganzfried, Shlomo Ganzfried - Biography, Shlomo Ganzfried - Works, Shlomo Ganzfried - Kitzur Shulkhan Arukh, Shlomo Ganzfried - Other works

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According to halakha (Jewish law), a minyan is required for many parts (D'varim She Ba Kodesh "Holy utterances") of the communal prayer service, including Barechu, Kaddish, repetition of the Amidah, the priestly blessing, and the Torah and Haftarah readings. Women are not required to pray with a minyan, and thus Judaism has traditionally counted only men in the minyan for formal prayer. Rabbinic Judaism teaches that all men and women are obligated to pray to God each day, but the formal requirements ...

See also:

Minyan, Minyan - Laws, Minyan - Origin, Minyan - Customs, Minyan - Changes in non-Orthodox forms of Judaism

Read more here: » Minyan: Encyclopedia II - Minyan - Laws

Mishneh Torah - Critics and criticism. The Mishneh Torah was strongly opposed almost as soon as it appeared. Major sources of contention were the absence of sources and the fact that the work appeared to be intended to supersede study of the Talmud. Some criticisms appear to have been less rational in nature. The most sincere but influential opponent, whose comments are printed parallel to virtually all editions of the Mishneh Torah, was Rabbi Abraham ben David ...

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Mishneh Torah, Mishneh Torah - Names of the work, Mishneh Torah - The books and sections, Mishneh Torah - Language and style, Mishneh Torah - Maimonides' sources, Mishneh Torah - Omissions, Mishneh Torah - Opposition, Mishneh Torah - Critics and criticism, Mishneh Torah - Maimonides' Reply, Mishneh Torah - Yonah of Gerona, Mishneh Torah - Influence, Mishneh Torah - Decisors, Mishneh Torah - Codes and commentators, Mishneh Torah - Present day, Mishneh Torah - English translations, Mishneh Torah - External link

Read more here: » Mishneh Torah: Encyclopedia II - Mishneh Torah - Opposition

Halakha (Jewish law) as derived from the Talmud is binding upon all Jews. However, in addition to these halakhot, there have always been local customs and prohibitions. Some customs were eventually adopted universally (e.g. wearing a head covering) or almost universally (e.g. monogamy). Others are observed by some major segments of Jewry but not by others (e.g., not eating rice on Passover). These Minhagim exist in various forms: Ancient minhagim go back to the time of the Talmud, and are today, gener ...

See also:

Minhag, Minhag - Minhag and Jewish law, Minhag - Discussion in Rabbinic literature, Minhag - Present day, Minhag - Nusach

Read more here: » Minhag: Encyclopedia II - Minhag - Minhag and Jewish law

Many halakhic principles are derived from this commandment. The oral law expands the ramifications of this law from its literal sense. The Sifra (a midrash from the time of the Mishna) states that, in its figurative sense, the commandment forbids one to give bad or damaging advice; after all, the receiving party is "blind" in this matter and will "stumble" as a result of the improper guidance (Sifra de-vei Rav, Kedoshim 2:14). It ...

See also:

Lifnei iver, Lifnei iver - Derivative laws, Lifnei iver - Degree of culpability, Lifnei iver - Reference

Read more here: » Lifnei iver: Encyclopedia II - Lifnei iver - Derivative laws

He was born at Jerusalem in 1534 to an Ashkenazi father and a Sephardic mother; died at Safed, Israel July 25, 1572 (5 Av 5332). While still a child he lost his father, and was brought up by his rich uncle Mordecai Francis, tax-farmer at Cairo, Egypt, who placed him under the best Jewish teachers. Luria showed himself a diligent student of rabbinical literature; and, under the guidance of Rabbi Bezalel Ashkenazi (best known as the author of Shittah Mekubetzet), he, while quite young, became pro ...

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Isaac Luria, Isaac Luria - Early life, Isaac Luria - Disciples, Isaac Luria - His teachings, Isaac Luria - Teachings about the Sefirot, Isaac Luria - Return of the soul, Isaac Luria - Influence on ritual, Isaac Luria - Influence on modern Judaism

Read more here: » Isaac Luria: Encyclopedia II - Isaac Luria - Early life

Mormonism and Judaism - Nature of God. Although monotheism is a fundamental tenet of Judaism, the Jewish religion arose and was codified during a time when polytheism and idolatry was the norm. In polytheistic religions, gods are typically ascribed human or human/animal bodies (including gender and even race), family relationships, and human failings (including intra-familial struggles, jealousy, revenge, and a whole host of negative human traits). It was the break from this mindset that marked Abraham's founding of the Jewish religion. Judaism does not a ...

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Mormonism and Judaism, Mormonism and Judaism - Mormon claims of House of Israel descent, Mormonism and Judaism - Jewish symbolism in Mormonism, Mormonism and Judaism - Calendar, Mormonism and Judaism - Mormons and Jews, Mormonism and Judaism - Jews in Utah, Mormonism and Judaism - Baptism for the Dead, Mormonism and Judaism - Jewish Mormons, Mormonism and Judaism - Mormons and Israel, Mormonism and Judaism - Mormons in Israel, Mormonism and Judaism - Comparison between Mormonism and Judaism, Mormonism and Judaism - Nature of God, Mormonism and Judaism - Jesus, Mormonism and Judaism - Idols, Mormonism and Judaism - Prophecy and the Messiahs, Mormonism and Judaism - Temples, Mormonism and Judaism - Priesthood and clergy, Mormonism and Judaism - Diet, Mormonism and Judaism - Sabbath, Mormonism and Judaism - Holy books, Mormonism and Judaism - Afterlife, Mormonism and Judaism - Conversion and proselytization, Mormonism and Judaism - Water purification, Mormonism and Judaism - Polygamy, Mormonism and Judaism - Plurality within the religions, Mormonism and Judaism - Demographics

Read more here: » Mormonism and Judaism: Encyclopedia II - Mormonism and Judaism - Comparison between Mormonism and Judaism

Judah Loew ben Bezalel - Disciples. It is unknown how many Talmudic rabbinical scholars the Maharal taught in Moravia, but the main disciples from the Prague period include Rabbis Yom Tov Lipmann Heller and David Ganz. The former promoted his teacher's program of regular Mishnah study by the masses, and composed his Tosefoth Yom Tov (a Mishnah commentary incorporated into almost all published editions of the Mishnah over the past few hundred years) with this goal in mind. David Ganz died young, but produce ...

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Judah Loew ben Bezalel, Judah Loew ben Bezalel - Biography, Judah Loew ben Bezalel - His name, Judah Loew ben Bezalel - Influence, Judah Loew ben Bezalel - Disciples, Judah Loew ben Bezalel - Jewish philosophy, Judah Loew ben Bezalel - Literature, Judah Loew ben Bezalel - Miscellaneous, Judah Loew ben Bezalel - Bibliography, Judah Loew ben Bezalel - Books

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Intellectual property - Overview. The purposes of laws dealing with exclusive rights over intangible subject matter or the product of intellectual or creative endeavour have varied, but they all share in common the appearance of granting the "owner" of the exclusive rights a monopoly on copying or distribution of a protected form of "property". In common law jurisdictions, this was historically done to grant a boon to a king's favourite in the form of letters patent (with some positive advantages to the pu ...

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Intellectual property, Intellectual property - Overview, Intellectual property - Exclusive rights, Intellectual property - History, Intellectual property - Development of specific laws, Intellectual property - History of the term, Intellectual property - Critique, Intellectual property - Overview, Intellectual property - Arguments against the term, Intellectual property - Expansion in nature and scope of IP laws, Intellectual property - Economic view, Intellectual property - Alternative systems of protection, Intellectual property - Valuation of intellectual property, Intellectual property - Types of intellectual property, Intellectual property - Bibliography

Read more here: » Intellectual property: Encyclopedia II - Intellectual property - Critique

Philosophers and others disagree about the purpose of a business in society. For example, some suggest that the principal purpose of a business is to maximize returns to its owners, or in the case of a publicly-traded concern, its shareholders. Thus, under this view, only those activities that increase profitability and shareholder value should be encouraged. Some believe that the only companies that are likely to survive in a competitive marketplace are those that place profit maximization above everything else. However, some point out that ...

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Business ethics, Business ethics - Related disciplines, Business ethics - Typical issues, Business ethics - Conflicting interests, Business ethics - Ethical issues and approaches, Business ethics - Corporate ethics policies, Business ethics - Ethics officers, Business ethics - Religious views on business ethics, Business ethics - Christian business ethics, Business ethics - Jewish business ethics, Business ethics - Muslim business ethics

Read more here: » Business ethics: Encyclopedia II - Business ethics - Ethical issues and approaches

The boundaries of Jewish law are determined through the halakhic process, a religious-ethical system of legal reasoning. Rabbis generally base their opinions on the primary sources of Halakha as well as on precedent set by previous rabbinic opinions. The major sources and genre of Halakha consulted include: The foundational Talmudic literature (especially the Mishna and the Babylonian Talmud) with commentaries; The post-Talmudic codificatory literature, such as Maimonides' Mishneh Torah and the Shulkhan Arukh with comme ...

See also:

Halakha, Halakha - Terminology, Halakha - The scope of Halakha, Halakha - The laws of the Torah, Halakha - Categories of law, Halakha - Sin: violation of Jewish law, Halakha - Gentiles and Jewish law, Halakha - The sources and process of Halakha, Halakha - Eras of history important in Jewish law, Halakha - The thirteen rules by which Jewish law was derived, Halakha - How Halakha is viewed today, Halakha - Flexibility within the Halakha, Halakha - Codes of Jewish law

Read more here: » Halakha: Encyclopedia II - Halakha - The sources and process of Halakha

Judaism teaches that the Bible was transmitted in parallel with an oral tradition, known as the oral law. Jewish practices and beliefs, thus, are based on reading the Bible through the perspective of the oral law; see the entries on the Mishnah, Talmud and rabbinic literature. According to Jewish law, ritual circumcision of male children is a commandment from God that Jews are obligated to follow; Jews do not believe that non-Jews are obligated to follow this commandment. Many Christians have the same understanding of this issue (i.e., that it is a law intended for Jews, but not for Christians). Ci ...

See also:

Circumcision in the Bible, Circumcision in the Bible - Introduction, Circumcision in the Bible - In the Hebrew Bible, Circumcision in the Bible - In Judaism, Circumcision in the Bible - In rabbinic literature, Circumcision in the Bible - Necessary or not?, Circumcision in the Bible - Necessity, Circumcision in the Bible - In the Apocrypha, Circumcision in the Bible - In Christianity

Read more here: » Circumcision in the Bible: Encyclopedia II - Circumcision in the Bible - In Judaism

Torah commentators point out that Jethro was the first to suggest to Moses that he divest his legal powers and delegate his power of judgment to lower courts. This situation was formalised later when God gave the explicit command (Deuteronomy 16:18) to "establish judges and officers in your gates". There were three types of courts (Mishnah, tractate Sanhedrin 1:1-4 and 1:6): The Sanhedrin, the grand central court on the Temple Mount, numbering 71 Smaller courts of 23, called a Sanhedrin Ketanaa, a "small Sanhedri ...

See also:

Beth din, Beth din - Antiquity, Beth din - Present situation, Beth din - Officers of a Beth Din

Read more here: » Beth din: Encyclopedia II - Beth din - Antiquity