There is a new light illuminating the skies of the Torah
world with the publication of Mishnas HaRosh -- the
commentary and novella of Rabbi Asher ben Yechiel on the
Talmud. For the first time, the commentary and novella are
arranged in order of the gemora, chapter by chapter
and page by page.
The commentary is culled from the Rosh's responsa, in the
course of which he explains the Talmudic discourse, sometimes
just briefly, other times in great depth. Often, these
explanations are not found in the rulings of the Rosh printed
at the end of each tractate, and many times these
explanations clarify an obscure point mentioned briefly in
his rulings.
The editor deserves great merit for arranging the commentary
in the order of the gemora, skillfully culling from
the responsa those matters relevant to understanding the
gemora, and following the give and take of the
Talmudic discourse. As a result of this work, those who study
gemora have the benefit of a new work on the Talmud:
the novella of one of the great Rishonim, upon whose
words we live our life, words that brighten the eyes of those
who see it with a depth of true understanding.
"Although the works of the Rishonim require no
approval from our generation, and indeed, such approval is
inappropriate," writes the renowned Rabbi A. L. Steinman, "in
our exceedingly weak generation, at least the
avreichim who toil at Torah study have the merit of
increasing and broadening the Torah, by taking the works of
the Rishonim that were not written according to the
order of the Talmud, but rather from their encyclopedic
knowledge of the Talmud, whereby they knew how to rule from
Talmud precedence for any question that they were asked. The
Talmud is our sea of life, and from it we draw all our
sustenance and knowledge of how to live. The editor who
organized the responsa of the Rosh according to the Talmudic
order, so that one studying a tractate can see his commentary
on that tractate, deserves great honor."
HaRav Michel Yehudah Lefkovitz writes in his approbation: "My
friend, Rabbi Yeshaya Cohen, a long-term member of the
Ponevezh Kollel, brought me several books that he merited to
edit from the responsa of the Rosh, organizing them in the
order of the Talmud, so that when studying a tractate, a
person might study the commentary of the Rosh to that
tractate. This certainly will be of great benefit to those
who study Talmud, for the words and expressions of the
Rishonim are very precious to us, since they reveal to
us the hidden depths of the give and take of the Talmudic
discourse."
HaRav Shmuel Halevi Wosner writes: "Rabbi Cohen showed us the
work Mishnas HaRosh, which is the novella of our great
Rabbi the Rosh, from whose Torah (and the Torah of the other
Rishonim) we live. The honored editor made Torah more
accessible by culling from the responsa of the Rosh all those
parts applicable to understanding the meaning of the
Talmud."
HaRav Chaim Kanievsky was asked by the editor for a blessing
that the work be worthy of "ascending on the table of kings,"
and that many study it. He responded in astonishment: "Is a
blessing necessary that the Rosh be studied?" and immediately
ordered his own copy.
The Rosh Yeshiva of Ponevezh, HaRav Gershon Edelstein,
greatly praises this work, writing in his letter of
approbation: ". . . there will be great benefit for those who
study Torah who can find the opinion of the Rosh in
explaining each section of the Talmud."
Let us close with the words of the Rosh Yeshiva of Ponevezh,
HaRav Boruch Dov Povarsky who writes: "My soul rejoices for
his heart came up with a good thing and he thought of a
wonderful idea . . . This is of great benefit to those who
study Torah, and it is a merit to us all for which we shall
show gratitude for the blessing that he has brought upon the
house of Israel."
