THE PERSONA OF A POSEQ: LAW AND SELF-FASHIONING IN SEVENTEENTH-CENTURY ASHKENAZ

This essay will direct its attention at the early modern poseq qua jurist. Its main focus is the persona of an exemplary German rabbinic figure, Ya'ir Hayyim Bacharach (1638-1702), who spent the latter part of his life and career in the community of Worms. Bacharach was greatly aware that a poseq must have the confidence of his community if he is to succeed in resolving difficult questions. In his own case, the public trust rested at once on his exceptional ability to analyze and interpret classical rabbinic sources and on the public image he had so carefully cultivated.