R' Mordechai Jaffe (Levush)
R' Moshe ben Naftali Hirsch, known as the Levush, was a prominent Ashkenazi halakhic authority of the early Acharonic period who lived in Poland-Lithuania. He is best known for authoring the Levush, a comprehensive code of Jewish law organized by topic, which served as an important alternative presentation of halakhic material in the early modern period. His work influenced subsequent codifiers and represented a significant contribution to the systematization of Ashkenazi legal tradition.
Works & Contributions (4)
- Lbvush
- Authored the Levush, a comprehensive topically-organized code of Jewish law
- Provided systematic arrangement of halakhic material for Ashkenazi communities
- Influenced later codifiers and halakhic authorities
Origin
Poland-Lithuania
1530–1612 CE (5290–5372)
Historical Context
Lineage
Teachers
Decisional Profile
Opinions recorded by category
Topic Coverage
Each square represents a topic. Darker squares indicate more opinions recorded in that topic.
Shabbat
Daily Life
Prayer
Blessings
Tzitzit & Tefillin
Pesach
Rosh Hashanah
Yom Kippur
Sukkot
Hanukkah
Purim
Holidays
Fasts & Mourning
Most often agrees with
R' Yishmael view1x
Most often disagrees with
Rulings (20)
If one prayed a second time intending it to be voluntary due to doubt, but then one's intention or conditions change mid-prayer, may one continue praying?
Even if one began with a condition due to doubt, if one remembers mid-prayer that one already prayed…
If a chazan erred during his silent Amidah (before the aloud repetition), must he repeat it?
The requirement to repeat the silent Amidah for an error in the first three blessings applies only i…
Must mayim achronim be washed into a vessel, or may one wash directly onto the ground?
Even on a paved floor one should be strict and not wash mayim achronim without a vessel.
What is the minimum amount of food one must eat to be obligated in Birkat Hamazon?
From Torah law (mideoraitta), the obligation exists only upon satiation (k'dey shviua). From rabbini…
Should the assembled diners answer 'Amen' after the mezamen concludes his response ('Baruch she-akhalnu mi-shelo u-v'tuvo chayinu')?
No 'Amen' response is required; the purpose of the zimun is for the diners to understand and hear on…
How are halakhic hours (sha'ot zemaniyot) for Minchah calculated — from dawn to nightfall, or from sunrise to sunset?
The 12-hour day is calculated from sunrise (netz hachamah) to sunset (shekiat hachamah). Under this …
May one who has accepted Shabbat early instruct another Jew who has not yet accepted Shabbat to do melachah for him?
On motzaei Shabbat, one may not benefit from another Jew's melachah unless one has first recited Bir…
What is the proper conclusion (chatimah) of the blessing Hashkiveinu on Friday night — 'Shomer amo Yisrael' or 'HaPores sukkat shalom'?
The Ashkenazi custom to say 'ushemor tzeitenu' within Hashkiveinu on Shabbat night is valid, because…
May the haftarah be read from a printed Chumash or must it be from a complete book of Nevi'im?
One cannot fulfill the haftarah obligation by reading from a printed Chumash because it is not writt…
What is the correct nusach (formulation) for the Havdalah insertion in Shemoneh Esreh — should one recite 'Atah Chonantanu' alone, 'Atah Chonen' alone, or both?
One should say both 'Atah Chonen' and 'Atah Chonantanu,' as they address two different aspects of da…
Should a God-fearing person (yerei shamayim) wear two pairs of tefillin — one according to Rashi and one according to Rabbeinu Tam — to fulfill the obligation according to both opinions?
Uncertain whether wearing two valid pairs of tefillin violates bal tosif.
May one open or close a book on Shabbat when letters are written on the edges of its pages?
Opening and closing such a book is close to a chiyuv chatas (near biblical liability).
When two ledges belonging to two different people are stacked one above the other (both above ten tefachim), and the upper ledge is four by four tefachim, may either owner use their ledge?
The lower ledge is permitted for use even when the upper ledge is four by four (and thus an independ…
When the lower ledge is four by four but the upper ledge is not, which parts of the upper ledge may be used?
The lower ledge (being four by four) does not restrict the upper ledge; the upper ledge owner may us…
May Kiddush Levana be recited before Tisha B'Av, before Yom Kippur, on Motza'ei Tisha B'Av, on Motza'ei other fasts, or on Motza'ei Shabbat that coincides with Yom Tov?
Before Yom Kippur, one should actually fulfill the mitzvah precisely in that period when one's fate …