Works
Rabbenu Asher’s best known work is his abstract of Talmudic law. This work specifies the final, practical halakha, leaving out the intermediate discussion and concisely stating the final decision. It omits areas of law limited to Eretz Yisrael (such as agricultural and sacrificial laws) as well as the aggadic portions of the Talmud. Asher’s son Jacob compiled a list of the decisions found in the work, under the title Piskei Ha-ROSH (decisions of the ROSH). Commentaries on his Halachot were written by a number of later Talmudists. In yeshivot, this work is studied as a regular part of the daily talmud study. It is not well known, but the work is actually not a commentary on the Talmud but is rather a commentary on the Rif, and always starts with the text of the Rif (see Shach quoted in Kellolei HoRif, Rabbeinu Osher, ViTur printed before the Rosh on Shabbos, Klal 2). Some however dispute this (see Sdei Chemed Klalei HaPoskim, Rosh)
This work resembles the Hilchot of the Rif (Rabbi Isaac Alfasi) - also an adumbration - but differs in quoting later authorities: Maimonides, the Tosafists and Alfasi himself. Rabbenu Asher's work superseded Alfasi's within a short time and has been printed with almost every edition of the Talmud since its publication. This work was so important in Jewish law that Yosef Karo included the ROSH together with Maimonides and Isaac Alfasi as one of the three major poskim (decisors) considered in determining the final ruling in his Shulkhan Arukh.
Rabbi Asher also wrote:
- Orchot Chaim, an essay on ethics, written for his sons. It begins with the comment, “Distance yourself from haughtiness, with the essence of distancing.” Orchot Chaim is today an important work of musar literature.
- A commentary on Zeraim (the first order of the Mishnah) - with the exception of Tractate Berachot.
- A commentary on Tohorot (the sixth order of the Mishnah).
- Tosafot-like glosses on several Talmudic topics.
- A volume of responsa; see History of Responsa: Fourteenth century.
- There is a volume of responsa entitled 'Besamim Rosh' which is falsely attributed to the Rosh. In fact it has been shown to be a forgery from the 18th century, and contains controversial decisions which contradict what the Rosh wrote in his (genuine) responsa. This collection was published by Saul Berlin, Tzvi Hirsch Levin's son. It was exposed as a forgery by Mordecai Benet (amongst others)
Read more about this topic: Asher Ben Jehiel
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