Sha’arei Dura [rabbinic code]

ISAAC BEN MEIR OF DURAN.

Germany

15th century

Manuscript in Hebrew, written in brown ink in a semi-cursive Aschkenazic hand on vellum. The final 3-pages in another hand: Kinoth for Tishah B’Av by Peretz ben Menachem Tarbut.

A beautiful, clear manuscript written in the 15th century, with occasional notations and glosses in the margins. R. Isaac of Duran (second half of 13th century) was a preeminent German halachic authority. His Sha’arei Dura is one of the most important Codes concerning dietary laws. It is based upon the traditions of both Germany and France and became the ultimate source for halachah in this area, quoted at length by all subsequent codifiers. The text in this manuscript varies from the printed version of Sha’arei Dura.