Making of a Medieval Bestseller

In 1277, Rabbi Isaac of Corbeil produced a concise work of accessible religious law. This handbook, ''Amudei Golah (Pillars of Exile), began as a list of religious commandments (mitzvot) meant to be recited weekly. It was divided into seven ''pillars'', drawn primarily from the limbs of the human body and its activities (heart, hand, mouth, monetary transactions, etc), and dealt exclusively with l...