[Avodah] Characterizing our era

[Micha Berger]

On Thu, Aug 11, 2011 at 01:15:46PM -0500, Lisa Liel wrote:
> My question is, what is the demarcation between Rishonim and Achronim?  
> When is the earliest known instance of a rabbi treating earlier rabbis  
> as "Rishonim" and excluding himself? ...

In the past I suggested two different lines -- the SA for Seph, and
the Mappah for Ashk. The SA (speaking inclusively) recentered halachic
discussion around a new book, such that acharonim measure the size
of their burden of proof by their distance from it. This shift in how
halakhah is done turned rishonim from near-contemporaries to being part
of that proof system.

This potential post-acharonic period lacks a similar book. While the MB
is rising to that role, it's only one of 4 Turim. The 4 Turim include most
of the 6 sedarim applicable bizman hazeh, so that's not a real drop-off.
    OC = Berakhos + Mo'eid + parts of Menachos
    YD = Taharos + Chullin
    EH = Nashim
    CM = Neziqim

But in terms of agreed-upon eras, I think each does have a cut-off. About
a decade back, I wrote the bulk of what ended up at the SCJ(M) FAQ at
http://www.shamash.org/lists/scj-faq/HTML/faq/04-03.html
Thanks to Avodah, my current opinion is more refined and nuanced, but that
bit about the SA ending the rishonim I didn't change my mind on.

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger             For those with faith there are no questions.
micha at aishdas.org        For those who lack faith there are no answers.
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