Chayei Adam (חיי אדם "The Life of Man") is a work ofJewish law by RabbiAvraham Danzig (1748–1820), dealing with the laws discussed in theOrach Chayim section of theShulchan Aruch.[1][2] It is divided into 224 sections - 69 dealing with daily conduct and prayer, and 155 withShabbos (Sabbath) andYom Tov (holidays).
Chayei Adam was intended primarily "for the culturedlayman", as opposed to rabbinic scholars, and the work is thus presented in a readily accessible form. In many cities, societies were formed for the purpose of studying Chayei Adam.
In this work, Rabbi Danzig collected and critically sifted theAcharonic material in the field of the Halakha written in the more than two and a half centuries since the appearance of theShulchan Aruch.[3] A parallel workNishmas Adam, published together with Chayei Adam, discusses the halachic issues in greater depth. The two are usually printed together.
The scholarship of the work is evidenced by the fact that RabbiChaim Volozhin, known for his opposition to "digests of halacha", granted the work his approbation (on condition that each section be cross-referenced to the Shulkhan Arukh to allow for further study). The rulings of the Chayei Adam are often cited in later works, especially theMishnah Berurah.
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