Ḥasdai Crescas on the philosophic foundation of codification

Ḥasdai Crescas briefly adumbrated his halakhic methodology in the introduction to his philosophic work, 'Or ha-Shem. He followed Maimonides by arguing for the importance of a comprehensive and succinct legal code and opposed himself to those who ascribe independent value to Torah study. However...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Aḳerman, Ari 1964- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: University of Pennsylvania Press [2013]
In: AJS review
Year: 2013, Volume: 37, Issue: 2, Pages: 315-331
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Ḳreśḳaś, Ḥasdai 1340-1410 / Halacha / Torah / Code
B Jewish law / Infinity / Religious philosophy / Perfection / Intellect / Divinity / Rule of law / Talmud
IxTheo Classification:BH Judaism
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Summary:Ḥasdai Crescas briefly adumbrated his halakhic methodology in the introduction to his philosophic work, 'Or ha-Shem. He followed Maimonides by arguing for the importance of a comprehensive and succinct legal code and opposed himself to those who ascribe independent value to Torah study. However, Crescas disputed Maimonides on the proper goals and character of a legal code. Unlike Maimonides, he designated his code for Torah scholars and focused on the bedrock principles that are the bases for particular laws. According to Crescas, these principles allow the codifier to capture the infinite and boundless halakhah in a finite and accessible form. They also serve as exegetical rules that allow the Torah scholar to create new laws. In this regard, the halakhic enterprise resembles the process of creation and the scholar resembles God.
ISSN:1475-4541
Contains:Enthalten in: Association for Jewish Studies, AJS review
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1017/S0364009413000287