ארבעה טורים – ספר אחד או ארבעה ספרים נפרדים? ספר אחד או ארבעה ספרים נפרדים

In this article, I explore the way Jacob b. Asher introduced each of the four volumes of his Turim. Examining the content of the various introductions can teach us whether he circulated each volume individually, as he completed them, or whether he distributed the work only after all the volumes were completed. Moreover, a close reading of the four introductions, together with an examination of the content of each volume, can help identify the prospective readers for whom he wrote. I argue that at least three of the four volumes had a distinct target audience and that each book was initially written to be circulated as an independent unit. It is only in the introduction to the fourth volume that Jacob notes that this was the final part of a four-volume work. Even more telling, it is only in this final introduction that he first mentions the title of the entire work, Arba‘ah (four) Turim. The earlier volumes all had distinct titles, with the name “Tur” (row) or “Turim” not mentioned. Understanding Jacob’s plan and the different audiences he was writing for can help us to better understand his structural choices in presenting his material as well as his overall purpose in composing his innovative work.