Tur

The Tur, also known as Arba’ah Turim (“The Four Rows,” an allusion to the jewels on the High Priest’s breastplate), is a 14th-century legal code by Rabbi Jacob ben Asher. It traces Jewish law from the Bible through the Talmud and early legal authorities, citing the author’s opinions as well as dissenting opinions. The work is divided into four sections that cover all areas of practical law, excluding laws that are only relevant in Temple times. Many commentaries were written on the Tur, most prominent among them Rabbi Yosef Karo’s “Beit Yosef,” which formed the basis of the Shulchan Arukh. Study of the Tur alongside its commentaries and the Shulchan Arukh is of primary importance in traditional yeshivas.