The Judaism of the Poskim

ResponsaAnd Nature OfOrthodox Judaism Meshivim, authors of halachic responsa, have lived everywhere andeverywhen, producing a literature that might seem too diverse toteach overall lessons.The Judaism of the Poskim presents responsafrom 1600 to the present-day, finding unifyingfactors - themes that repeatedly engaged thesemany Torah scholars - and the common sourceson which they based their ideas. In these pages, readers will find a good introduction to the responsaliterature, insight into how meshivim come to their halachicconclusions, reminders of central issues we may neglect in our Torahlives, and ideas about what animated our greatest halachic authors."The Judaism of the Poskim...highlights halakhic responsa asa potential foundation for defining Orthodox identity andcommitment...[P]articularly demonstrates that the library and...basic methodology of all meshivim was remarkably uniform...[E]stablishes...ubiquitous, definitive meta-halakhic and halakhicvalue motifs...in the thinkin