רבינו יואל הלוי

Rabbeinu Yoel HaLevi was a Rishon whose halachic views are brought in later codes and digests. He appears in discussions of practical halachah across several areas, and his rulings are cited alongside other leading authorities.

In the laws of blessings, he holds that one need not be concerned about an interruption between the washing of the hands (netilah) and the blessing of HaMotzi, reasoning that since the table is before the person and he intends to eat, this does not count as a diversion of attention; he explains the teaching of “adjoining the washing to the blessing” as referring to the final waters (mayim acharonim), a view brought together with that of Rav Alfas and the Rambam. His teachings are likewise reflected in halachic discussion touching on forbidden fats (chelev) and on the laws of Pesach concerning earthenware vessels used with chametz during the year.