Sheelot

Sheelot, sometimes transliterated as she'elot or sheelot, is a term in Jewish rabbinic literature that refers to the genre known as responsa. The word is the plural of the Hebrew she’elah, meaning “question,” and the paired expression she’elot u’teshuvot means “questions and answers.” This body of literature consists of formal questions posed to halachic authorities and their written rulings in response.

The format of a sheelot typically includes the presentation of a specific problem or scenario, sometimes with background details or the author of the question, followed by the authority’s ruling, and a reasoned legal explanation that cites earlier sources such as the Talmud, codes, and prior responsa. Answers may address ritual practice, Shabbat and holiday observance, dietary laws, civil and communal matters, or contemporary issues arising from new technologies and circumstances.

Historically, the responsa tradition has roots in early rabbinic debate and matured during the medieval period, becoming a centralized method for adapting Jewish law to new situations. Over time, many communities—Ashkenazi, Sephardi, and others—produced their own prolific collections of responsa, which were often published in multi-volume sets. These works helped standardize practice in some communities while allowing local variation in others.

In modern times, responsa remain a dynamic part of Jewish legal discourse. Contemporary halachic authorities across various denominations continue to issue she’elot u’teshuvot on a wide range of questions, from everyday practices to complex ethical and technical issues, maintaining the genre’s role as a living bridge between tradition and evolving circumstances.