Meshivim, authors of halachic responsa, have lived everywhere and everywhen, producing a literature that might seem too diverse to teach overall lessons. The Judaism of the Poskim presents responsa from 1600 to the present-day, finding unifying factors • themes that repeatedly engaged these many Torah scholars • and the common sources on which they based their ideas.

In these pages, readers will find a good introduction to the responsa literature, insight into how meshivim come to their halachic conclusions, reminders of central issues we may neglect in our Torah lives, and ideas about what animated our greatest halachic authors.