Editing Asher ben Jehiel (section)

==Works==
Rabbenu Asher's best known work is his abstract of [[halakha|Talmudic law]]. This work [[posek|specifies]] the final, practical ''[[halakha]]'', leaving out the [[gemara|intermediate discussion]] and concisely stating the [[posek|final decision]]. It omits areas of law limited to ''[[Eretz Yisrael]]'' (such as agricultural and sacrificial laws) as well as the ''[[aggada|aggadic]]'' portions of the Talmud. Asher's son [[Jacob ben Asher|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 [[Torah study|Talmud study]].

This work resembles the ''Hilchot'' of the Rif (Rabbi [[Isaac Alfasi]])—also an adumbration—but differs in quoting later authorities: [[Maimonides]], the [[tosafot|Tosafists]] and Alfasi himself. One theory states that the work is actually not a commentary on the ''Talmud'' but is rather a commentary on the ''Rif'', given that it always starts with the text of the ''Rif''.<ref>See ''[[Shabbatai ha-Kohen|Shach]]'', as quoted in ''Kelalei HaRif, Rabbeinu Asher VeTur'' printed before the ''Rosh'' on ''[[Shabbat (Talmud)|Shabbat]]'', ''Klal'' 2</ref> Some however dispute this.<ref>See ''[[Chaim Hezekiah Medini|Sdei Chemed]]'', Klalei HaPoskim, s.v. "Rosh"</ref>

Rabbenu Asher's work has been printed with almost every edition of the Talmud since its publication. This work was so important in [[halakha|Jewish law]] that [[Yosef Karo]] included the Rosh together with [[Maimonides]] and [[Isaac Alfasi]] as one of the three major ''[[posek|poskim]]'' (decisors) considered in determining the final ruling in his ''[[Shulchan Arukh]].''

Rabbi Asher also wrote:
*''Orchot Chaim'', an essay on [[ethics]], written for his sons. It begins with the comment, “Distance yourself from haughtiness, with the essence of distancing.” ''Orchot Chaim'' is today an important work of [[musar literature]].
*A [[Close reading|commentary]] on ''[[Zeraim]]'' (the first order of the ''[[Mishnah]]'')—with the exception of Tractate ''[[Berakhot (Talmud)|Berachot]].''
*A commentary on ''[[Tohorot]]'' (the sixth order of the ''Mishnah'').
*The ''Tosefot ha-Rosh'', [[Tosafot]]-like glosses on the Talmud.
*A volume of ''[[responsa]]''; see [[History of Responsa#Fourteenth century|History of Responsa: Fourteenth century]].
* There is a volume of responsa entitled 'Besamim Rosh' which is falsely attributed to the Rosh. In fact it has been shown to be a forgery from the 18th century, and contains controversial decisions which contradict what the Rosh wrote in his (genuine) responsa. This collection was published by [[Saul Berlin]], [[Hirschel Levin|Tzvi Hirsch Levin]]'s son. It was exposed as a forgery by [[Mordecai Benet]] (amongst others)
*A commentary on the [[Torah]] which often uses mystical interpretations such as using [[gematria]] and acronyms similar to his son [[Jacob ben Asher]] more famous work Rimzei Ba'al ha-Turim.