Klalei HaPoskim

Overview

In order to be privy to the nuances and mindsets of the Poskim, it is advantageous to understand the Klalim relevant to the Poskim, from the two Talmuds through the Rishonim to the Shulchan Aruch. The Machon Yerushalayim edition of the Yad Malachi is particularly helpful for this, as the Yad Malachi is fantastic for collecting all the ideas mentioned throughout Halachic literature and the Matnat Yado footnotes add many additional sources from those who came before and after him, as well as direct quotations of sources.

A number of these Klalim, such as Stam vaYesh and Yesh veYesh have much import in understanding many of the Rishonim, though the idea is only written out under the heading of one of them.

The Chida writes how important it is to learn the chronological/historical/bibliographic details of Sefarim, because it alleviates many uncertainties and prevents one from entertaining mistaken understandings, as is evidenced by the many times he uses such details to resolve issues throughout Shem HaGedolim.

Safrut Chazal

• Talmud Bavli and Yerushalmi
• Tosefta
• Midrashim
• Zohar
• Sefarim HaChitzonim

Klalei HaRishonim

Some Rishonim are know by the same acronym, which can be confusing. See Disambiguations of Rishonim for clarification.

Geonim	Rashi	Maharam Rutenberg	Ramban	Tosfot Rid
Baal Halachot Gedolot (Bahag)	Tosfot	Rosh	Ra'ah	Riaz
Rif	Sefer HaTerumah	Tur	Rabbeinu Yonah	Shiltei HaGibborim
Rambam	Baal HaIttur	Rabbeinu Yerucham	Rashba	Maharik
Raavad	Rash MiShantz	Mordechai	Ritva	R' Ovadia MiBartenura
Baal HaMaor	Sefer Mitzvot Gadol (Smag/Semag)	Hagahot Maimoniot	Ran	Maharil
Ra'avan	Ra'avyah	Hagahot Ashri	Nimukei Yosef	Kol Bo
Rabbi Eliezer MiMitz	Sefer HaTerumot		Maggid Mishneh	Trumat HaDeshen
	Meiri		Migdal Oz	Orchot Chaim
			Rivash
			Tashbetz

Klalei HaAcharonim

• Shulchan Aruch and Rama
• Radbaz (Rav David ben Zimra)
• Maharikash (Rav Yaakov Kastro)
• Binyamin Ze'ev
• Kenesset HaGedolah
• Mishneh LeMelech
• Chelkat Mechokek
• Lechem Mishneh (on the Rambam)
• Magen Avraham
• Taz
• Chida (Rav Chaim Yosef David Azoulay)
• Chesed LeAlafim
• Mishnah Brurah
• Moroccan Halacha

Further Reading

• Koreh HaDorot, Ahavat Shalom edition with footnotes of the Chida
• Kenesset HaGedolah, Klalei HaPoskim
• Yad Malachi, especially the Machon Yerushalayim annotated edition
• Yair Ozen / Ein Zocher, by the Chida
• Shem HaGedolim, by the Chida
• Kol HaChaim, by Rav Chaim Palagi
• Sdei Chemed, Klalei HaPoskim (in some editions, vol. 6, page 55, and vol. 9, page 125 in others)
• Ein Yitzchak vol. 1, by Rav Yitzchak Yosef
• על ספרים וסופרים by Rav Yaakov Chaim Sofer, Rosh Yeshivat Kaf HaChaim and grandson of the Kaf HaChaim [Parts I, II, III]