Shulchan Aruch

The Code of Jewish Law is called the Shulchan Aruch in Hebrew, which means "Set Table". It gives everyday rules taken from Maimonides' code and other explanations. Rabbi Yosef Caro wrote it between 1488 and 1575. He was a wise person from the Sephardic tradition who lived in Safed, a holy city in northern Israel. Later, Rabbi Moshe Isserles, an Ashkenazi rabbi of Krakow, Poland, added notes whenever the Ashkenazi way of doing things was different from Rabbi Caro's rules.

People from all parts of the Jewish world accepted this combined text. The name "Shulchan Aruch" has become a way to talk about Jewish law. If someone follows Jewish law really well, they might be called a "Shulchan Aruch Yid." That means their every action lines up with Halachah, the Jewish way of living.

The Shulchan Aruch's impact on Jewish life has been immense. It has served as a unifying force, providing a common framework for religious practice and legal decision-making across diverse Jewish communities. Its rulings have guided countless individuals and families in their daily observance of Jewish law.

Over the centuries, the Shulchan Aruch has been supplemented by commentaries and glosses, providing additional insights and interpretations. Notably, Rabbi Moses Isserles' gloss, known as the Rema, added Ashkenazic customs and rulings, making the Shulchan Aruch applicable to both Sephardic and Ashkenazic communities.

Link to buy: https://www.amazon.com/Shulchan-Shneur-Zalman-English-Translation/dp/0826608620

Link to read: https://www.sefaria.org/texts/Halakhah/Shulchan