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Sefer ha-Halakhot

work by Alfasi

Quick Summary

Sefer ha-Halakhot, meaning "Book of Laws," is a significant codification of Talmudic law written by Rabbi Isaac ben Jacob Alfasi in the 11th century. This work focuses exclusively on the legal aspects of the Talmud, known as Halakha, omitting homiletical passages and laws only applicable in ancient Israel.1

Alfasi's code is considered one of the great legal codes in Jewish tradition, alongside those of Maimonides and Karo. It played a crucial role in shifting the center of Talmudic study from Babylonia to Spain and emphasized the authority of the Babylonian Talmud over the Palestinian Talmud. The Sefer ha-Halakhot remains an important text in contemporary yeshiva studies.1

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