Shulchan Aruch - Major Commentaries

Major Commentaries

A large body of commentaries have appeared on the Shulchan Aruch, beginning soon after its publication . The first major gloss, 'Hagahot' by "Rema" (Moses Isserles) was published shortly after the Shulchan Aruch appeared. Isserles' student, Rabbi Yehoshua Falk HaKohen published Sefer Me'irath Enayim (on Choshen Mishpat, abbreviated as Sema) several decades after the main work. Important works by the later authorities (acharonim) include:

• Magen Avraham ("Abraham's shield") by Rabbi Avraham Gombiner (on Orach Chayim)
• Turei Zahav ("Rows of Gold", abbreviated as Taz) by Rabbi David HaLevi Segal (on Orach Chayim, Yorei Deah and Even ha-Ezer)
• Sifthei Kohen ("The Lips of the Kohen", abbreviated as Shach) by Rabbi Shabbatai ha-Kohen (on Yorei Deah and Choshen Mishpat)
• Beth Shmuel and Chelkath Mechokek (on Even ha-Ezer)
• Ba'er Hetev ("Well-Explained"), a summary of the two main commenters in each section.
• Peri Chadash ("New Fruit") by Hezekiah da Silva
• Peri Megadim ("Dainty Fruit") by Joseph ben Meir Teomim
• Shaarei Teshuvah ("Gates of Answer") by Chaim Mordechai Margoliot
• Machatzit HaShekel ("Half a Shekel") by Rabbi Samuel Neta HaLevi.

While these major commentaries enjoy widespread acceptance, some early editions of the Shulchan Aruch were self-published (primarily in the late 17th and early 18th centuries) with commentaries by various rabbis, although these commentaries never achieved significant recognition. A wealth of later works include commentary and exposition by such halachic authorities as the Ketzoth ha-Choshen and Avnei Millu'im, Netivoth ha-Mishpat, the Vilna Gaon, Rabbi Yechezkel Landau (Dagul Mervavah), Rabbis Akiva Eger, Moses Sofer, and Chaim Joseph David Azulai (Birkei Yosef) whose works are widely recognized and cited extensively in later halachic literature.