The Unique Judicial Vision of Rabbi Meir Simcha of Dvinsk : : Selected Discourses in Meshekh Hokhmah and Or Sameah / / Yitshak Cohen; Herbert Basser.

• Superior document: Title is part of eBook package: De Gruyter ASP eBook Package 2016
• VerfasserIn: Cohen, Yitshak,
• HerausgeberIn: Basser, Herbert,
• TeilnehmendeR: Gotlieb, Meshulam
• Place / Publishing House: Boston, MA : : Academic Studies Press, , [2016]; ©2016
• Year of Publication: 2016
• Language: English
• Series: Touro University Press
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (188 p.)

This book analyzes the exceptional normative impact of R. Meir Simcha Hacohen's Biblical commentary, Meshekh Hokhmah, and his halakhic commentary, Or Sameah. It examines the reliance of the poskim on R. Meir Simcha's innovations and hermeneutic methods as well as their view of his interpretations that broadened or narrowed the scope of Maimonides' rulings. The book explores the broad-based judicial principles underlying R. Meir Simcha's legal decisions and approach to Jewish law. It further examines how his legal creativity was impacted by metahalakhic principles that guided him in addressing changing historical and social realities. The book also considers R. Meir Simcha's unique attitudes toward gentiles. His approach attests to his innovativeness and his halakhic moderation, as he tried to rule as leniently as possible on matters concerning non-Jews. In this book, R. Meir Simcha is shown to be a truly influential rabbi whose contributions will long be a source of study and discussion.

Table of Contents

Frontmatter -- Table of Contents -- Acknowledgments -- Introduction -- Chapter 1: Midrashic Technique and Legal Creativity in the Meshekh Hokhmah -- Chapter 2: The Rabbinic Decisors and the Halakhic Material in Or Sameah -- Chapter 3: Metahalakhic Principles in R. Meir Simcha's Oeuvre -- Chapter 4: Rabbi Meir Simcha and His Attitude toward Gentiles -- Index -- Index of Sources