Jewish law ''Halakha'' ( ; , ), also transliterated as ''halacha'', ''halakhah'', and ''halocho'' ( ), is the collective body of Jewish religious laws that are derived from the Written and Oral Torah. ''Halakha'' is based on biblical commandments ('' mit ...

and history, ''Acharonim'' (, , ; ; ) are the leading

rabbi A rabbi (; ) is a spiritual leader or religious teacher in Judaism. One becomes a rabbi by being ordained by another rabbi—known as ''semikha''—following a course of study of Jewish history and texts such as the Talmud. The basic form of t ...

s and

poskim In Jewish law, a ''posek'' ( , pl. ''poskim'', ) is a legal scholar who determines the application of ''halakha'', the Jewish religious laws derived from the written and Oral Torah, in cases of Jewish law where previous authorities are inconc ...

(Jewish legal decisors) living from roughly the 16th century to the present, and more specifically since the writing of the ''

Shulchan Aruch The ''Shulhan Arukh'' ( ),, often called "the Code of Jewish Law", is the most widely consulted of the various legal codes in Rabbinic Judaism. It was authored in the city of Safed in what is now Israel by Joseph Karo in 1563 and published in ...

'' (; a code of Jewish law) in 1563 CE. The ''Acharonim'' follow the ''

Rishonim ''Rishonim'' (; ; sing. , ''Rishon'') were the leading rabbis and ''posek, poskim'' who lived approximately during the 11th to 15th centuries, in the era before the writing of the ''Shulchan Aruch'' (, "Set Table", a common printed code of Jewis ...

'', the "first ones"—the rabbinic scholars between the 11th and the 16th century following the ''

Geonim ''Geonim'' (; ; also Romanization of Hebrew, transliterated Gaonim, singular Gaon) were the presidents of the two great Talmudic Academies in Babylonia, Babylonian Talmudic Academies of Sura Academy , Sura and Pumbedita Academy , Pumbedita, in t ...

'' and preceding the ''Shulchan Aruch''. The publication of the ''Shulchan Aruch'' thus marks the transition from the era of Rishonim to that of Acharonim. The Acharonim are thus contemporary with the

Early Modern Period The early modern period is a Periodization, historical period that is defined either as part of or as immediately preceding the modern period, with divisions based primarily on the history of Europe and the broader concept of modernity. There i ...

, the foundation of

Hasidic Judaism Hasidism () or Hasidic Judaism is a religious movement within Judaism that arose in the 18th century as a Spirituality, spiritual revival movement in contemporary Western Ukraine before spreading rapidly throughout Eastern Europe. Today, most ...

, Jewish emancipation in Europe, the

Haskalah The ''Haskalah'' (; literally, "wisdom", "erudition" or "education"), often termed the Jewish Enlightenment, was an intellectual movement among the Jews of Central Europe, Central and Eastern Europe, with a certain influence on those in Wester ...

(Jewish Enlightenment),

Zionism Zionism is an Ethnic nationalism, ethnocultural nationalist movement that emerged in History of Europe#From revolution to imperialism (1789–1914), Europe in the late 19th century that aimed to establish and maintain a national home for the ...

, the

Holocaust The Holocaust (), known in Hebrew language, Hebrew as the (), was the genocide of History of the Jews in Europe, European Jews during World War II. From 1941 to 1945, Nazi Germany and Collaboration with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy ...

, the foundation of the

State of Israel Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in West Asia. It Borders of Israel, shares borders with Lebanon to the north, Syria to the north-east, Jordan to the east, Egypt to the south-west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. Isr ...

and the Jewish exodus from the Muslim world.

Consequences for Halakhic change

The distinction between the ''Acharonim'', ''Rishonim'' and ''Geonim'' is meaningful historically. According to the widely held view in

Orthodox Judaism Orthodox Judaism is a collective term for the traditionalist branches of contemporary Judaism. Theologically, it is chiefly defined by regarding the Torah, both Torah, Written and Oral Torah, Oral, as literally revelation, revealed by God in Ju ...

, the Acharonim generally cannot dispute the rulings of rabbis of previous eras unless they find support from other rabbis in previous eras. Yet the opposite view exists as well: In ''The Principles of Jewish Law'' Orthodox Rabbi Menachem Elon wrote: ''Hilkheta Ke-Vatra'ei'' can be interpreted such that the Orthodox view does not constitute a contradiction, with an appeal to understand it within the greater context of Torah. While authority may go to the scholars of a later generation ''within'' a particular era, the Talmud does not allow scholars of a later era to argue with scholars of an ''earlier'' era without support from other scholars of an earlier era. This is displayed in “hundreds of instances" in the Talmud in which Amora’im are challenged by Tanna’itic sources with the term מיתיבי and the Amorai'm unable to “deflect the challenge”. An Amora called Rav is challenged by Tannai’tic sources “and is vindicated by the statement, ''Rav tanna hu upalig”-'' “Rav is a Tanna and disagrees (in ''Eiruvin'' 50b, ''Kesubos'' 8a, and elsewhere). A similar case exists for Rav Chiya, a borderline Tanna in ''Bava Metzia'' 5a''.'' This clearly implies that the only reason they are able to get away with disagreeing is because they are Tannaim. There are “only a handful of possible exceptions o the rulethat the ''Amora’im'' did not, in fact argue with the ''Tanna’im.”'' The question of which prior rulings can and cannot be disputed has led to attempts to precisely define which rulings are within the Acharonim era. According to many rabbis the Shulkhan Arukh is from an Acharon. Some hold that Rabbi

Yosef Karo Joseph ben Ephraim Karo, also spelled Yosef Caro, or Qaro (; 1488 – March 24, 1575, 13 Nisan 5335 A.M.), was a prominent Sephardic Jewish rabbi renowned as the author of the last great codification of Jewish law, the ''Beit Yosef'', and its ...

's ''Beit Yosef'' has the halakhic status of a work of a Rishon, while his later ''Shulkhan Arukh'' has the status of a work of an Acharon.

Notable Acharonim

''Note: This list is incomplete and is only intended to provide a small selection from the broad list of prominent rabbinic figures of the Acharonic era. For a more comprehensive list, see'' List of rabbis.

16th century

Bezalel Ashkenazi Bezalel ben Abraham Ashkenazi () ( 1520 – 1592) was a rabbi and talmudist who lived in Ottoman Israel during the 16th century. He is best known as the author of the ''Shitah Mekubetzet'', a commentary on the Talmud. Among his disciples were ...

(''Shitah Mekubetzet'') (c. 1520 – c. 1592), Talmudist *

Moses ben Jacob Cordovero Moses ben Jacob Cordovero ( ''Moshe Kordovero'' ‎; 1522–1570) was a central figure in the historical development of Kabbalah, leader of a mystical school in the Ottoman Empire in 16th-century Safed, located in the modern State of Israel. H ...

(''Ramak'') (1522–1570), Holy Land Kabbalistic scholar * Joshua Falk (''Sma''; ''Me'irat Einayim''; 1555 – 1614) * Moshe Isserles (''Rema'') (1520–1572), Polish halakhic authority and Posek, author of ''HaMapah'' component of the ''

Shulkhan Arukh The ''Shulhan Arukh'' ( ),, often called "the Code of Jewish Law", is the most widely consulted of the various legal codes in Rabbinic Judaism. It was authored in the city of Safed in what is now Israel by Joseph Karo in 1563 and published in V ...

'' *

(the ''Mechaber'') (1488–1575), Spanish and Land of Israel legal codifier of the ''

'' code of Torah Law *

Judah Loew ben Bezalel Judah Loew ben Bezalel (; 1512 – 17 September 1609), also known as Rabbi Loew ( Löw, Loewe, Löwe or Levai), the Maharal of Prague (), or simply the Maharal (the Hebrew language, Hebrew Hebrew abbreviations, acronym of "''Moreinu ha-Rav Loew'' ...

(''Maharal'') (1520–1609), Prague mystic and Talmudist *

Isaac Luria Isaac ben Solomon Ashkenazi Luria (; #FINE_2003, Fine 2003, p24/ref>July 25, 1572), commonly known in Jewish religious circles as Ha'ari, Ha'ari Hakadosh or Arizal, was a leading rabbi and Jewish mysticism, Jewish mystic in the community of Saf ...

(''Ari'') (1534–1572), Great Kabalist, basis for most recent Kabalists * Solomon Luria (''Maharshal'') (1510–1573), Posek and Talmudist * Obadiah ben Jacob Sforno (''Sforno'') (c. 1475 – 1550), Italian scholar and rationalist * Chaim Vital (1543–1620), Kabbalist and primary disciple of Rabbi Isaac Luria * David ben Solomon ibn Abi Zimra (''Radbaz'') (c. 1479 or c. 1487 – 1573), 15th/16th century Halakhist, Posek and Chief Rabbi of

Egypt Egypt ( , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a country spanning the Northeast Africa, northeast corner of Africa and Western Asia, southwest corner of Asia via the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to northe ...

17th century

* Samuel Eidels ("Maharsha") (1555–1631), Talmudist famous for his commentary on the Talmud * Ḥayyim Shabbethai ("Maharhash") (1557–1643), Chief Rabbi of Thessaloniki, famous for his responsa. *

Menasseh Ben Israel Manoel Dias Soeiro (; 1604 – 20 November 1657), better known by his Hebrew language, Hebrew name Menasseh or Menashe ben Israel (), was a Jewish scholar, rabbi, Kabbalah, kabbalist, writer, diplomat, printer (publisher), printer, publishe ...

(1604–1657), Portuguese/Dutch Kabbalist, diplomat and publisher * Moses Raphael de Aguilar ( 1611- 1679), Dutch Talmudist and Hebrew grammatician. * Moses ben Isaac Judah Lima (''Chelkath Mechokeik''; c. 1615 – c. 1670) *

Shabbatai HaKohen Shabbatai ben Meir HaKohen (; 1621–1662) was a talmudist and halakhist. He became known as the ''Shakh'' (), which is an abbreviation of his most important work, ''Siftei Kohen'' () (literally ''Lips of the Priest'') on the Shulchan Aruch. Bi ...

(1621–1662; ''Siftei Kohen'') *

David HaLevi Segal David ha-Levi Segal (c. 1586 – 20 February 1667), also known as the Turei Zahav (abbreviated Taz []) after the title of his significant ''halakha, halakhic'' commentary on the ''Shulchan Aruch'', was one of the greatest Jews of Poland, Polish ...

(''Turei Zahav'') (c. 1586–1667), Halakhist, major commentator on the Shulkhan Aruch *

Avraham Gombiner Abraham Abele Gombiner () ( – 5 October 1682), known as the Magen Avraham, born in Gąbin (Gombin), Poland, was a rabbi, Talmudist and a leading religious authority in the Jewish community of Kalisz, Poland, during the seventeenth century. Hi ...

(''Magen Avraham''; c. 1635 – 1682) * Hillel ben Naphtali Zevi (''Bet Hillel'') (1615–1690), Lithuanian scholar *

Isaac Aboab da Fonseca Isaac Aboab da Fonseca (or Isaak Aboab Foonseca) (February 1, 1605 – April 4, 1693) was a rabbi, scholar, kabbalist, and religious writer. In 1656, he was one of several elders within the Portuguese-Jewish community in Amsterdam and for a time ...

(1605–1693), Portuguese/Dutch scholar and Kabbalist, first Rabbi in the Americas * Hezekiah da Silva (1659–1698; ''Peri Chodosh'') * Yair Bacharach (''Havvot Yair'') (1639–1702), German Talmudist * Isaac Abendana (c. 1640–1710), Sephardic scholar in England * Samuel ben Uri Shraga Phoebus (''Beit Shmuel'')

18th century

Brockhaus and Efron Jewish Encyclopedia e16 058-0

* Chaim ibn Attar (''Ohr Hachaim''; ''Peri Toar''; 1696–1743) *

Jonathan Eybeschutz Jonathan Eybeschutz or Eybeshitz (; 1690–1764) was a Talmudist, halakhist, and kabbalist holding positions first as Dayan of Prague and later as rabbi of the "Three Communities": Altona, Hamburg, and Wandsbek. He is well known for his confl ...

(''Urim ve-Tummim''; ''Kereti u-Peleti'') (1690–1764) of

Prague Prague ( ; ) is the capital and List of cities and towns in the Czech Republic, largest city of the Czech Republic and the historical capital of Bohemia. Prague, located on the Vltava River, has a population of about 1.4 million, while its P ...

, * Moshe Chaim Luzzatto (''Ramchal'') (1707–1746), Italian philosopher, mystic, and moralist * Yehudah ben Shimon Ashkenazi ('' Ba'er Hetev''; 1730–1770), a German rabbi * Zechariah Mendel ben Aryeh Leib of Cracow ('' Ba'er Hetev'') * Joseph ben Meir Teomim (1727–1792; ''Pri Megadim'') *

Vilna Gaon Elijah ben Solomon Zalman, ( ''Rabbi Eliyahu ben Shlomo Zalman''), also known as the Vilna Gaon ( ''Der Vilner Goen''; ; or Elijah of Vilna, or by his Hebrew acronym Gr"a ("Gaon Rabbenu Eliyahu": "Our great teacher Elijah"; Sialiec, April 23, 172 ...

("Gra") (1720–1797), Lithuanian Talmudist and Kabbalist; Note: The Chazon Ish held him to be a Rishon * Chaim Yosef David Azulai ("Chida"; ''Birkei Yosef'' – a commentary on the ''

'') (1724–1806) *

Jacob Emden Jacob Emden, also known as the Yaʿavetz (June 4, 1697 – April 19, 1776), was a leading German rabbi and talmudist who championed traditional Judaism in the face of the growing influence of the Sabbatean movement. He was widely acclaimed for ...

(1697–1776), Danish/German scholar * Shalom Sharabi (1720–1777), Yemenite Sage, Kabbalist and founder of the Beit El Yeshiva, Jerusalem *

Shneur Zalman of Liadi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, (; September 4, 1745 – December 15, 1812 O.S. / 18 Elul 5505 – 24 Tevet 5573) commonly known as the Alter Rebbe or Baal Hatanya, was a rabbi and the founder and first Rebbe of Chabad, a branch of Hasidic Judaism. He ...

('The Baal HaTanya'; '' Shulchan Aruch HaRav'') (1745–1812) * Elazar Fleckeles (1754–1826) * Simcha Bunim of Peshischa (1767–1827) * Samuel Loew (c. 1720–1806; ''Machatzis HaShekel'') * Aryeh Leib HaCohen Heller (c. 1745 – 1812; ''Ketzot HaChoshen'') *

Avraham Danzig Avraham ben Yehiel Michael Danzig (; 1748–1820) was a rabbi, ''posek'' (legal decisor) and Halakha#Codes of Jewish law, codifier, best known as the author of the works of halakha, Jewish law called ''Chayei Adam'' and ''Chochmat Adam''. He is so ...

(1748—1820; '' Chayei Adam''; ''Chochmat Adam'') *

Yaakov Lorberbaum Jacob Lorberbaum or Jacob ben Jacob Moses of Lissa (1760-1832) , Hebrew: יעקב בן יעקב משה מליסא) was a rabbi and posek. He is most commonly known as the Ba'al HaChavas Da'as or the Ba'al HaNesivos for his most well-known works, ...

(1760–1832; ''Nesivos HaMishpat'') * Akiva Eger (1761–1837)

19th century

* Yehudah Leib Alter (''Sfas Emes'') (1847–1905), Gerrer rebbe * Naftali Zvi Yehuda Berlin (''Netziv'', ''HaEmek Davar'') (1816–1893), head of Volozhin Yeshiva in Lithuania * Abraham Hirsch ben Jacob Eisenstadt of Byelostok (1812–1868; ''Pithchei Teshuvah'') * Baruch Epstein (''Torah Temimah'') (1860–1941), Lithuanian Torah commentator * Moshe Mordechai Epstein (''Levush Mordechai'') (1866–1933), Talmudist and co-head of Slabodka Yeshiva *

Yechiel Michel Epstein Yechiel Michel ha-Levi Epstein () (24 January 1829 – 25 March 1908), often called "the ''Aruch haShulchan''" after his magnum opus, '' Aruch HaShulchan'', was a Rabbi and ''posek'' (authority in Jewish law) in Lithuania. Biography Yechiel Mi ...

('' Aruch HaShulchan'') (1829–1908), Halakhist and Posek *

Samson Raphael Hirsch Samson Raphael Hirsch (; June 20, 1808 – December 31, 1888) was a German Orthodox rabbi best known as the intellectual founder of the '' Torah im Derech Eretz'' school of contemporary Orthodox Judaism. Occasionally termed ''neo-Orthodoxy'', hi ...

(1808–1888), German rabbi, founder of the ''Torah im Derech Eretz'' movement * Yisrael Meir Kagan ('' Chofetz Chaim''; '' Mishnah Berurah'') (1838–1933), Polish Halakhist, Posek, and moralist *

Yosef Hayyim Yosef Hayim (1 September 1835 – 30 August 1909) ( Iraqi Hebrew: Yoseph Ḥayyim; ; or Yosef Chaim) was a leading Baghdadi ''hakham'' ( Sephardi rabbi), authority on ''halakha'' (Jewish law), and Master Kabbalist. He is best known as author of ...

of Baghdad (''Ben Ish Chai'') (1835–1909), Iraqi Halakhist,

Posek In Jewish law, a ''posek'' ( , pl. ''poskim'', ) is a legal scholar who determines the application of ''halakha'', the Jewish religious laws derived from the written and Oral Torah, in cases of Jewish law where previous authorities are incon ...

, Kabbalist and communal leader * Meir Leib ben Yechiel Michel (''Malbim'') (1809–1879), Russian preacher and scholar * Menachem Mendel Schneersohn (''Tzemach Tzedek''; 1789–1866) * Moses Sofer (''Chatam Sofer'') (1762–1839), Hungarian rabbi *

Chaim Soloveitchik Chaim (Halevi) Soloveitchik (Yiddish: חיים סאָלאָווייטשיק, ), also known as Chaim Brisker (1853 – 30 July 1918), was a rabbi and Talmudic scholar credited as the founder of the Brisker method of Talmudic study within Judaism ...

("Reb Chaim Brisker") (1853–1918), Rosh Yeshivah in Valozhyn, Innovator of the Brisker method * Yaakov Dovid Wilovsky (''Ridbaz'') (1845–1913), of Slutzk,

Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

and Tzfat (1845–1913) * Meir Simcha of Dvinsk (''Ohr Sameiach'', ''Meshech Chochmah'') (1843–1926), Lithuanian-Latvian Talmudist and communal leader

20th century

* Baruch Shalom HaLevi Ashlag (''RaBaSh'') (1907–1991), author of the Shlavei HaSulam and Shamati * Yehuda Ashlag (''Baal HaSulam'') (1884–1954), author of The Sulam commentary on The Book of Zohar * Shlomo Zalman Auerbach 1910–1995 Major Modern Posek in Israel *

Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler (; 1892 – 31 December 1953) was an Orthodox Judaism, Orthodox rabbi, Talmudic scholar, and Jewish philosopher of the 20th century. He is best known for being the ''mashgiach ruchani'' ("spiritual counselor") of the ...

(''Michtav Me'Eliyahu'') (1892–1953), 20th century religious philosopher and ethicist * Mordechai Eliyahu (1929–2010), Halakhist, Posek, and Sephardic

Chief Rabbi Chief Rabbi () is a title given in several countries to the recognized religious leader of that country's Jewish community, or to a rabbinic leader appointed by the local secular authorities. Since 1911, through a capitulation by Ben-Zion Meir ...

of Israel (1983–1993) * Moshe Feinstein (''Igrot Moshe'') (1895–1986), Russian-American Halakhist, Posek, and Talmudist * Yitzchok Hutner (''Pachad Yitzchok'') (1906–1980), European-born American and Israeli Rosh Yeshiva * Avrohom Yeshaya Karelitz (''Chazon Ish'') (1878–1953), Belarusian-born, leading halakhic authority and leader of

Haredi Judaism Haredi Judaism (, ) is a branch of Orthodox Judaism that is characterized by its strict interpretation of religious sources and its accepted (Jewish law) and traditions, in opposition to more accommodating values and practices. Its members are ...

in Israel *

Menachem Mendel Schneerson Menachem Mendel Schneerson ( – June 12, 1994; Anno Mundi, AM 11 Nissan 5662 – 3 Tammuz 5754), known to adherents of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement as the Lubavitcher Rebbe or simply the Rebbe, was an American Orthodox rabbi and the most rec ...

(1902–1994), seventh

Rebbe A Rebbe () or Admor () is the spiritual leader in the Hasidic movement, and the personalities of its dynasties.Heilman, Samuel"The Rebbe and the Resurgence of Orthodox Judaism."''Religion and Spirituality (Audio)''. UCTV, 20 Oct 2011. web. ...

of Chabad-Lubavitch *

Elazar Shach Elazar Menachem Man Shach (, Elazar Shach; January 1, 1899 O.S. – November 2, 2001) was a Haredi rabbi who headed Lithuanian Orthodox Jews in Israel and around the world from the early 1970s until his death. He served as chair of the Counc ...

(1899–2001) (rav shach) Rosh Yeshiva Ponevezh and Posek * Yaakov Chaim Sofer (1870–1939; ''Kaf Hachaim'') * Joseph B. Soloveitchik (1903–1993) (''rav yoshe ber'') 20th century Rosh Yeshiva, Talmudist, and religious philosopher. * Joel Teitelbaum (''Divrei Yoel''; 1887–1979), the first

Satmar Satmar (; ) is a group in Hasidic Judaism founded in 1905 by Grand Rebbe Joel Teitelbaum (1887–1979), in the city of Szatmárnémeti (also called Szatmár in the 1890s), Kingdom of Hungary, Hungary (now Satu Mare in Romania). The group is a b ...

rebbe * Eliezer Waldenberg 1915–2006 the "Tzitz Eliezer" Major Modern Posek in Israel * Shmuel Wosner (''Shevet Halevi'') (1913–2015), Posek, Yeshivat Chachmei Lublin *

Ovadia Yosef Ovadia Yosef (, ; September 24, 1920 – October 7, 2013) also known as Maran (Hebrew language, Hebrew: מרן) "Our Master", was an History of the Jews in Iraq#Otoman rule, Iraqi-born Talmudic scholar, hakham, posek, and the Sephardi Jews, Sephar ...

(1920–2013), Iraqi-born Halakhist, Posek and Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel (1973–1983)

References

External links

The Rules of Halacha
, Rabbi

Aryeh Kaplan Aryeh Moshe Eliyahu Kaplan (; October 23, 1934 – January 28, 1983) was an American Orthodox Judaism, Orthodox rabbi, author, and translator best known for his The Living Torah and Nach, Living Torah edition of the Torah and extensive Kabbalah, ...

The different rabbinic eras
faqs.org * (

MP3 MP3 (formally MPEG-1 Audio Layer III or MPEG-2 Audio Layer III) is a coding format for digital audio developed largely by the Fraunhofer Society in Germany under the lead of Karlheinz Brandenburg. It was designed to greatly reduce the amount ...

s), Rabbi R Y Eisenman
Early Achronim 5160–5410 (1400–1650)

Later Achronim 5410 (1650)
chabad.org * ''Mini-biographies from chaburas.org'' *

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{{Jews and Judaism Articles which contain graphical timelines 7 .