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Mishneh Torah (The Strong Hand)

Maimonides

Complete code of Jewish law in fourteen books (hence the nickname *Yad ha-Hazakah*, "the strong hand", since *yad* equals fourteen), written in clear Mishnaic Hebrew between about 1168 and 1178. It covers everything: the *Book of Knowledge*, with the foundations of faith, ethics and repentance; prayer, the Sabbath and festivals; marriage; food; the Temple and sacrifices; civil and criminal law; and it concludes with the laws of kings and the messianic era. It omits the Talmudic discussions and the sources to give only the decision, which provoked criticism such as the glosses of Abraham ben David of Posquières, printed ever since alongside the text. It became the basis of later codes such as the *Arba'ah Turim* and the *Shulhan Arukh*, and is still studied daily.