Darchei Moshe, commentary to Jacob ben Asher, Tur, section Orach Chaim

In the introduction, Rabbi Moses Isserles (Ram"a) of Cracow (1525 or 1530-72) relates how while working on his commentary to the Tur (having already reached as far as Hilchoth Chalah) word reached him of publication of Rabbi Joseph Karo's newly penned commentary Beith Yoseph. At first the thought occurred to him that he might have to discontinue his unfinished manuscript, for Karo had beaten him to the task. However, upon careful examination of Karo's commentary, he decided that there was yet merit in what he had written: First, he had observed the law of brevity, while Karo's commentary was more prolix. Second, he had availed himself of the early Aschkenazic decisions, such as those of R. Israel Isserlein, upon whose foundations rest Aschkenazic custom. Our work is referred to as "Darchei Moshe ha-Aroch" to differentiate it from Isserles' later abridged version "Darchei Moshe ha-Katzar." This later shortened version was published in all four sections of the Tur in Berlin 1702-3. See EJ, Vol. IX, col.1083