Arbah Turim [The Four Orders of the Jewish Code of Law]

Jacob ben Asher, son of the great Asher ben Jechiel, perceived that as a result of increased controversy and faulty reasoning, opinions had multiplied in the field of Halachic ruling so much so that there were few areas free of discordance. Thus, he sought to compile a work that would embrace all the Halachoth and customs pertaining to both the individual and the community. The result, the Arbah Turim, quickly became an authoritative work of Jewish Law and initiated a new era in the realm of Halachic codification. Divided into four sections (“Turim,” or rows): i. Orach Chaim; on blessings, prayers, the Sabbath, festivals etc. ii. Yoreh De’ah; on ritual law, Shechitah, usery, idolatry and mourning. iii. Even ha’Ezer; on laws affecting women. iv. Choshen Mishpat; on civil law and personal relations. “The legal compendia of Jacob b. Asher and Maimonides were the most popular post-talmudic and non-liturgical Hebrew books of the 15th century.” National Library of Canada Catalogue, The Jacob M. Lowy Collection (1981) no.11. According to I. Sonne the Soncino Tur “grabbed first place, “ prized among Rabbinic scholars at the close of the 15th century. See Tiyulim Be-historia Ubibliographia in: Sepher Hayovel ... Alexander Marx (1950) p.222. The Soncino Family, holds a most honored place in the history of Hebrew printing. They initiated their fruitful labors at the beginning of the 1480’s, establishing presses in various Italian cities, including Soncino, Brescia and Casale-Maggiore, and later in Constantinople and Salonika as well. “For out of Zion shall go forth the Torah, and the Word of the Lord from Soncino,” became the favored proverb of the Soncino press. This edition of the Arbah Turim is the only work in which Solomon Soncino, brother of the better known Gershom, is recorded as printer. Amram suggests, “It seems that although Joshua Solomon’s name appears in most of the books of the first five years of the press, the others were entitled to an equal share of the credit of their production and it may be that the younger men after serving their apprenticeship were rewarded by permission to attach their names to an occasional publication. Thus, while Gershom apears as the printer of the Book of Moses of Coucy (issued in 1488), his brother Solomon, in 1490 appears as the printer of a new editon of that other great law book, the Turim of Jacob ben Asher.” The Makers of Hebrew Books in Italy (1963) p.78 For another copy sold at auction see Sotheby’s, Highly Important Hebrew Printed Books and Manuscripts, New York, June 26th, 1984 Lot 13