Shulkhan Arukh means "Set Table" in Hebrew is also called the Code
of Jewish Law. It was written by Rabbi Yosef Caro
(1488 – 1575 CE) and
serves as the most authoritative source of Jewish law. It is the main
reference used by rabbis for rendering halakhic decisions.
Shulkhan Arukh is a distillation and amplification of his much
larger Beth Yoseph commentaries in Jacob ben Asher's Arba’ah Turim,
faithfully following its quadripartite structure:
The first part, Orach Chayim, is a compilation of the
laws of personal hygiene, etiquette, blessings, synagogue procedures, Sabbath,
and holidays.
The second part, Yoreh Deah, deals with laws of ritual
slaughter, kosher food regulations, guidelines for rabbis, the laws
of family purity, avoidance of interest, and conversion to Judaism.
The third part, Even Haezer, compiles the laws of engagement, wedding, marriage, divorce and burial.
The last part, Choshen Mishpat contains the laws of
finance, financial responsibility, business, personal, financial and
material damages, as well as the regulations for the Jewish Courts (Bet
Din) and testimony.
The author’s introduction to the work lucidly explains the need
for such a compilation: in Spain, halakhic rulings were dispensed by
the rabbinical
authorities according to the customs of the local
community, but, as the Jews were expelled from Spain and dispersed, the
religious observance was endangered. Adding to the problem, the
development of printing spread halakhic literature to the scattered
communities. This allowed many under-educated persons to possess
editions of many legal treatises, which made them decide on major
halakhic issues at their own discretion. Therefore, Caro writes, he
wrote his Beth Yosef to remedy this problem, critically examining in
this book the
opinions of all the authorities then known to him.
The work is much more comprehensive than any previous legal
compilations, often mentioning Talmudic and Midrashic clauses to make a
particular point, and resorting to opinions of later authorities not
considered by Arba’ah Turim. Opinions of over 30 different rabbis have
been considered in the work, which has no equal in the breadth and
wealth of material. Besides offering a comprehensive reading for
learning halakha, Caro’s Shulkhan Arukh teaches unique methods of
critical investigation. He does not accept blindly the opinions of the
ancient authorities, although paying them his utmost respect, rather,
he analyses objectively their thinking.