Q: It seems that are so many books on Jewish law. Why is this? Would it not make sense to have one clearly written book from 2,000 years and have everyone follow it, without having Rabbi’s invent new laws? Is there any book that all Jews follow and respect?

Rav David: You should know that Halacha never stays constant; it always confronts the question of the day, trying to find solutions to modern day problems. There is a long process and evolution of halacha, from the Torah to the Talmud to the Rishonim then the Acharonim.  The problem that faces world Jewry is the great ocean of Jewish law that is very difficult to fully comprehend. So the leaders of the community started making compilations to teach the masses how to practice.

The first person to do this is Rabbi Yishak Alfasi in Northern Africa. The second comprehensive collection was the Mishneh Torah, compiled by Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon, the Rambam, where he thoroughly explained all practical aspects of Jewish law, even about the sacrifices and temple services. And the third was Rabeinu Asher who wrote Arba Turim.

Based on these three great collections of halacha Rabbi Yosef Caro compiled a clearly written easily understood and universally accepted code of Jewish law, the Shulchan Aruch. Even after the compilation of the Shulchan Aruch, many commentaries on it have followed in order to keep up and address contemporary issues to explain the spirit of the halacha and its intentions.

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