Posek Facts for Kids

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Jewish Law Experts: How Different Groups Decide

Poskim are very important in Orthodox Judaism.

Often, a community will see one of its poskim as the "Posek HaDor," meaning the main posek for that generation.
Most people in Orthodox communities follow the advice of their local rav (rabbi) or a leading posek.
Poskim in Orthodox Judaism usually don't change existing laws. Instead, they explain how old laws apply to new situations. They make sure the rules stay the same over time.

Conservative Judaism looks at poskim and Halakha a bit differently.

Poskim in this group might give less weight to old rulings. They are more open to re-explaining or even changing a past rule if they have a good reason.
While there are some important poskim in the Conservative movement, one rabbi's ruling is usually less important than a group decision.
The Conservative movement has a group called the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards. Their decisions are generally accepted as the main rules.
However, every Conservative rabbi can still interpret Jewish law for their own community.

Both Reform and Reconstructionist Judaism don't see Halakha as strictly binding.

Reform Judaism believes in individual choice. But they still have some written rulings, often to discuss ideas with other Jewish groups.
Rabbis like Solomon Freehof and Walter Jacob tried to create a "Progressive Halacha." They wrote many rulings that considered modern feelings and ethical ideas.
Reconstructionist Judaism believes that if Jewish communities were stronger, their rulings would be binding. But for now, they let tradition have "a vote, not a veto." This means tradition is important, but it doesn't always have the final say.

Many wise scholars have served as poskim throughout history. They helped guide Jewish communities by interpreting and applying Jewish law.

Toledot HaPoskim, History of the Jewish Codes, a book about the history of Jewish law.

Some very important poskim lived before the 20th century. They wrote books that are still studied today.

Yoel Sirkis (1561–1640)
David HaLevi Segal (1586–1667)
Sabbatai ha-Kohen (1621–1662)
Vilna Gaon (1720–1797)
Moses Sofer (1762–1839)
Shlomo Ganzfried (1804–1886)

Many important Orthodox poskim lived in the 20th and 21st centuries.

Yisrael Meir Kagan (1838–1933), known for Mishnah Berurah
Avraham Yeshayahu Karelitz (1878–1953), known as Chazon Ish
Moshe Feinstein (1895–1986), a very influential posek in America
Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (1910–1995)
Ovadia Yosef (1920–2013), a leading Sephardic posek
Chaim Kanievsky (1928–2022)

These scholars helped shape the legal thinking within their movements.

There are still many active poskim today who continue to guide Jewish communities.