Responsa

Geonim

Responsa of leading rabbis and heads of talmudic academies who lived approximately in the 6th through early 11th centuries and answered questions on talmudic interpretation, practical law, and Jewish thought.

Teshuvot HaGeonim

Collection of responsa published from a manuscript discovered in Chevron in the 19th century.

Toratan shel Rishonim

Collection of responsa and a range of other geonic writings, published from manuscripts in the 19th-century.

Epistle of Rav Sherira Gaon

Influential 10th-century letter detailing the development of rabbinic literature from the Mishnah to the Geonim.

Musafia Teshuvot HaGeonim

Collection of responsa and talmudic commentary published from manuscript in the 19th century.

Rishonim

“The first ones” - leading rabbis and legal authorities who lived in the 11th through 15th centuries, whose responsa overwhelmingly focus on legal issues.

Maharach Or Zarua Responsa

13th-century responsa composed by Ashkenazi decisor Rav Chaim Eliezer, the son of the Or Zarua.

Mahari Bruna

15th-century responsa by a student of the Mahari Weil; one of the main sources quoted in the Rema’s glosses on the Shulchan Arukh.

Mahari Weil

15th-century responsa composed in Germany by a student of the Maharil, quoted often in the Rema’s glosses on the Shulchan Arukh.

Rambam

12th-century collection of responsa and public letters on topics like the world to come and heresy.

Rashba

14th-century responsa by the Rashba, a student of the Ramban, with more than 3000 decisions; quoted often in the Shulchan Arukh.

Sefer HaTashbetz

15th-century responsa of the North African Rav Shimon ben Tzemach Duran, with a number of letters on math, history, and grammar.

Shut min haShamayim

13th-century responsa recording answers that the author, a French Tosafist, received from the heavens in his dreams.

Terumat HaDeshen

15th-century responsa of the Austrian Rabbi Yisrael Isserlin, quoted often in the Rema’s glosses on the Shulchan Arukh.

Teshuvot HaRashbash

15th-century responsa of Rav Shlomo Duran, son of the Tashbetz.

Teshuvot HaRi Migash

12th-century responsa of the Spanish Rav Yosef ibn Migash, a student of the Rif, originally composed in Arabic.

Teshuvot HaRitva

13th-century responsa composed in Spain, first published in the 20th century.

Teshuvot HaRivash

14th-century responsa of Rav Isaac ben Sheshet, who lived in Spain and North Africa, quoted often in the Shulchan Arukh.

Teshuvot HaRosh

14th-century responsa composed primarily in Spain with German influences, quoted often by the author’s son, the Tur, and the Shulchan Arukh.

Teshuvot Maharam

13th-century responsa composed in Germany, with a focus on monetary issues and the suffering of German Jews under heavy taxation.

Teshuvot Maharik

15th-century responsa composed by the leading Italian rabbinic figure of the time, quoted often in the Rema’s glosses on the Shulchan Arukh.

Teshuvot Maharil

15th-century responsa composed in Germany, quoted often in the Rema’s glosses on the Shulchan Arukh.

Teshuvot Rashi

11th-century responsa by the renowned French biblical and talmudic commentator Rashi, collected and published in the 20th century.

Acharonim

“The later ones” - leading rabbis and legal authorities who lived in the 16th through 20th centuries, whose responsa overwhelmingly focus on legal issues.

Binyan Tziyon

19th-century responsa by a leading German rabbi of the era, the author of the Arukh L’Ner.

Chakham Tzvi

17th-century responsa composed by the rabbi of the Ashkenazi community in Amsterdam, with questions from communities throughout Europe.

Chazeh Hatenufa

14th-century abridgement of selected responsa of the Rosh, compiled by his student and published in the 18th century by the Chida.

Havot Yair

17th-century responsa cited frequently by later authorities.

Mateh Levi

19th-century responsa of a leading rabbi in Frankfurt and son-in-law of the Arukh L’Ner.

Melamed Leho'il Part I

20th-century responsa of Rav David Tzvi Hoffman on topics discussed in the Orach Chaim section of the Shulchan Arukh.

Melamed Leho'il Part II

On topics discussed in the Yoreh De’ah section of the Shulchan Arukh, like ritual slaughter and kashrut.

Melamed Leho'il Part III

On topics discussed in the Even HaEzer (family law) and Choshen Mishpat (financial law) sections of the Shulchan Arukh.

Noda BiYhudah I

Influential 18th-century responsa of Rabbi Yechezkel Landau, known for the primacy it grants to the Talmud as a source of law.

Noda BiYhudah II

Second volume published posthumously by the author’s son, who added 60 of his own responsa.

Radbaz

16th-century responsa of the chief rabbi of Egypt, with more than 2000 decisions.

Chatam Sofer

Highly influential 19th-century responsa by Rabbi Moses,Sofer, a rabbi dedicated to upholding Orthodoxy in the midst of the Enlightenment.

Maharashdam

16th-century responsa composed in Greece.

Rav Pealim

19th-century responsa of the Ben Ish Chai, composed in Baghdad.

Remah

16th-century responsa composed in Poland by the author of the glosses on the Shulchan Arukh.

Sheilat Yaavetz

18th-century responsa of Rav Yaakov Emden, quoted often by later authorities.

Shoel uMeshiv

19th-century responsa composed in Poland, one of the first to discuss the use of timers on Shabbat.

Teshuva MeAhava Part I

19th-century responsa by a primary student of the Noda B’Yehuda.

Teshuvot Bayit Chadash

17th-century responsa of Rabbi Yoel Sirkis, also known as the Bach.

Teshuvot Maharit

17th-century responsa published posthumously by the author’s children.

Teshuvot Maharshal

16th-century responsa by the author of the Yam Shel Shlomo.

Torat Netanel

18th-century responsa composed in Germany by the author of the Korban Netanel, a commentary on the Talmud.

Modern

B'Mareh HaBazak

Responses to questions sent from all over the world to rabbis in the Eretz Hemdah Institute in Jerusalem, succinct in style but with detailed sources.

Collected Responsa in Wartime

Responsa published by a central, interdenominational chaplaincy committee in the US army addressing questions that arose during World War II.

Collected Responsa to Chaplains

Supplement to “Collected Responsa in Wartime,” published in 1953.

LaKelal VeLaPerat

Responsa compiled by the second Sephardic Chief Rabbi of the State of Israel over the course of his tenure from 1955 through 1972.

Lindenbaum Center

Growing collection of responsa from the Lindenbaum Center for Halakhic Studies at Yeshivat Chovevei Torah Rabbinical School.

Mishpetei Uziel

20th-century multi-volume responsa of Rav Ben-Zion Uziel, the first Sephardic chief rabbi of Israel.

Nishmat HaBayit

21st-century responsa relating to family purity and women’s health compiled by a team of Nishmat’s Yoatzot Halakhah.

Benei Banim

20th-century responsa of Rav Yehuda Herzl Henkin, incorporating essays on topics of Jewish thought and talmudic interpretation.

Badei HaAron; Sheviit

21st-century work on the halakhic principles of the Shemitah year by Rav Re’em HaCohen, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivat Otniel.

HaElef Lekha Shlomo

19th-century responsa of Rav Shlomo Kluger, arranged according to the sections of the Shulchan Arukh.

Yein HaTov

20th-century responsa by Rabbi Yitzchak Nissim, the second Sephardic chief rabbi of the State of Israel.

About Responsa

Responsa are answers and rulings written by rabbinic leaders in response to questions, ranging from post-talmudic to contemporary. They demonstrate the actualization of halakhah (Jewish law) and values in situations not explicitly addressed in legal codes and often serve as precedents for future cases.

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