Rif
R' Yitzchak Alfasi (1013-1103 CE) was a Moroccan-born halakhic authority who became one of the most influential decisors of the medieval period. He authored the Rif, a groundbreaking compendium of halakhic decisions extracted from the Talmud, which served as a foundational work for all subsequent legal codes. His methodology of synthesizing Talmudic discussions into practical law became the model for later codifiers.
Works & Contributions (7)
- Halachot (as cited by Tur and Taz)
- Halakhot / Talmudic commentary
- Hilkhot Tefillah
- Authored the Rif (Sefer Ha'Halakhot), a major halakhic compendium
Origin
Fez, Morocco; later Lucena, Spain
1013–1103 CE (4773–4863)
Historical Context
Lineage
Students
Decisional Profile
Opinions recorded by category
Topic Coverage
Each square represents a topic. Darker squares indicate more opinions recorded in that topic.
Shabbat
Daily Life
Prayer
Blessings
Tzitzit & Tefillin
Pesach
Rosh Hashanah
Yom Kippur
Sukkot
Hanukkah
Purim
Holidays
Fasts & Mourning
Rulings (22)
What minimum length must remain on a torn tzitzit string for the tzitzit to remain kosher?
K'dei anivah means enough to loop each string individually (the smaller measure), since the Talmudic…
How far up the hand must water reach for valid netilat yadayim — up to the wrist/forearm joint or only up to where the fingers join the palm?
Netilat yadayim requires washing the entire hand up to the forearm joint (kano shel zro'a — where th…
Is women's obligation in Birkat HaMazon from Torah or Rabbinical law?
Women's obligation in Birkat HaMazon is d'Oraita (Torah)
Can women discharge (be motzi) men's obligation in Birkat HaMazon?
Women can discharge men's obligations in Birkat HaMazon
Does a laborer need to recite Birkat HaMozia (the blessing over bread) before eating?
Laborers must recite Birkat HaMozia before eating.
What blessing is recited upon seeing inhabited Jewish homes (or synagogues), and which interpretation of 'beit Yisrael' is accepted in practice?
'Beit Yisrael' refers to synagogues; the custom is to recite the blessing only upon seeing synagogue…
What is the underlying reason for the prohibition on commencing a sea voyage within three days of Shabbat?
The prohibition is because of oneg Shabbat — the first three days at sea cause physical suffering (n…
What is the threshold for reeds or date pits used as kindling when they are spread out (not bundled)?
When spread out, minimal catching suffices (they ignite each other across pieces); when bundled or i…
Is it permitted to wrap a valid wick material around an invalid wick material for the Shabbat lamp?
Both thickening and stiffening involve the same physical wrapping; the distinction is entirely in th…
When adding liquid constitutes kneading (lisha) — does adding water alone create liability?
Adding water to flour alone does not constitute kneading. One is not liable until actually mixing (g…
How may scattered fruit in a courtyard be gathered on Shabbat — may a basket be used?
The word 'and eat' is not precise — one may also place scattered fruit in his lap or clothing as an …
May one sweep (kibud) the house on Shabbat?
Sweeping is permitted even on an unpaved floor, since it is not a psik reisha that one will level de…
Are a person who is excommunicated (menudeh) and a metzorah (biblical leper) forbidden to wear tefillin?
A menudeh and metzorah are permitted to wear tefillin; there is no prohibition.
How are a person's four amot measured when Shabbat finds him outside the techum — does he receive four amot total (two on each side) or four amot in each direction (8×8)?
A person has only four amot total, with himself at the center — meaning two amot on each side (a 4×4…
Can a traveler acquire Shabbat rest at a distant location (tree or fence) by verbal declaration when he may not arrive before nightfall?
Agrees with the majority position that verbal specification of location acquires Shabbat rest there;…