Editing Shulchan Aruch (section)

==Moses Isserles==
The "Rema" ([[Moses Isserles]]) started writing his commentary on the [[Arba'ah Turim]], Darkhei Moshe, at about the same time as Yosef Karo. Karo finished his work "Bet Yosef" first, and it was first presented to the Rema as a gift from one of his students. Upon receiving the gift, the Rema could not understand how he had spent so many years unaware of Karo's efforts. After looking through the Bet Yosef, the Rema realized that Karo had mainly relied upon Sephardic [[Posek|poskim]].

In place of Karo's three standard authorities, Isserles cites "the later authorities" (chiefly based on the works of [[Yaakov Moelin]], [[Israel Isserlein]] and [[Israel Bruna]], together with the Franco-German [[Tosafists]]) as criteria of opinion.<ref>''Darkhei Mosheh'' to Yoreh De'ah, 35</ref> While the ''Rosh'' on many occasions based his decision on these sources, Isserles gave them more prominence in developing practical legal rulings. By incorporating these other opinions, Isserles actually addressed some major criticisms regarding what many viewed as the arbitrary selection of the three authorities upon whose opinions Karo based his work.<ref>''Birkei Yosef'', Azoulay, Choshen Mishpat 25:29 and [[Maharshal]] in his introduction to ''Yam Shel Shlomo''</ref>

After realizing this, the Rema shortened his work on the ''Tur'', entitled Darkhei Moshe, to focus only on rulings which differ from ''Bet Yosef''.

The halachic rulings in the ''Shulchan Aruch'' generally follow the Sephardic custom. The Rema added his glosses and published them as a commentary on the ''Shulchan Aruch'', specifying whenever the Sephardic and Ashkenazic customs differ. These glosses are sometimes referred to as the ''mappah'', literally, the 'tablecloth,' to the ''Shulchan Aruch's'' 'Set Table.' Almost all published editions of the ''Shulchan Aruch'' include this gloss.

The importance of the ''[[minhag]]'' ("prevailing local custom") is also a point of dispute between Karo and Isserles: while Karo held fast to original authorities and material reasons, Isserles considered the ''minhag'' as an object of great importance, and not to be omitted in a codex. This point, especially, induced Isserles to write his glosses to the ''Shulchan Aruch'', that the customs (''minhagim'') of the Ashkenazim might be recognized, and not be set aside through Karo's reputation.