Page "Asher ben Jehiel" Paragraph 5

Rabbenu Asher ’ s best known work is his abstract of Talmudic law.

This work specifies the final, practical halakha, leaving out the intermediate discussion and concisely stating the final decision.

It omits areas of law limited to Eretz Yisrael ( such as agricultural and sacrificial laws ) as well as the aggadic portions of the Talmud.

Asher ’ s son Jacob compiled a list of the decisions found in the work, under the title Piskei Ha-ROSH ( decisions of the ROSH ).

Commentaries on his Halachot were written by a number of later Talmudists.

In yeshivot, this work is studied as a regular part of the daily talmud study.

It is not well known, but the work is actually not a commentary on the Talmud but is rather a commentary on the Rif, and always starts with the text of the Rif ( see Shach quoted in Kellolei HoRif, Rabbeinu Osher, ViTur printed before the Rosh on Shabbos, Klal 2 ).

Some however dispute this ( see Sdei Chemed Klalei HaPoskim, Rosh )