In 2005 Wikipedia's first sentence called it “one of the most important leaders in the history of halakha”. Today it says “prominent sephardic jewish rabbi renowned as the author of the last great codification of jewish law”.
Measured, not asserted. Every count, date and revision on this page was taken from Wikipedia's own history and checked against the live article. The words quoted are theirs.
Machine-checked against the full current article on 2026-08-03.
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The opening as it read in 2005
Joseph) Ben Ephraim Karo is one of the most important leaders in the history of halakha (Jewish law). He was born in Spain or Portugal in 1488 ; he died at Safed (Tzefat), Israel , March 24 , 1575 . He is also known as HaMechaber , Hebrew for "the author [of the Shulkhan Arukh ]", his most famous work; and as Maran Beth Yosef , "our master, [the author of] Beth Yosef ".1
This is Wikipedia's own text, saved in our repository. Their copy of it is revision 16037642.
The opening as it stood in 2010 3 passages from the previous snapshot no longer appear
Joseph ben Ephraim Caro , also spelled Yosef Karo, or Qaro, ( Toledo , 1488 – Safed , 1575) was author of the last great codification of Jewish law, the Shulchan Aruch , which is still authoritative for all Jews pertaining to their respective communities.To this end he is often referred to as ha-Mechaber ( Hebrew : "The Author" ) and as Maran ( Aramaic : "Our Master" ).
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 366542446.
The opening as it stood in 2015
Joseph ben Ephraim Karo , also spelled Yosef Caro , or Qaro (1488 – March 24, 1575), was author of the last great codification of Jewish law, the Shulchan Aruch , which is still authoritative for all Jews pertaining to their respective communities.To this end he is often referred to as HaMechaber ( ) and as Maran ( Aramaic : "Our Master" ).
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 669528771.
The opening as it stood in 2020
Joseph ben Ephraim Karo , also spelled Yosef Caro , or Qaro ( ; 1488 – March 24, 1575, 13 Nisan 5335 A.M. ), was author of the last great codification of Jewish law, the Shulchan Aruch , which is still authoritative for all Jews pertaining to their respective communities. To this end he is often referred to as HaMechaber ( , " The Author ") and as Maran ( , " Our Master ").
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 964016094.
The opening as it stood on October 6, 2023
Spanish rabbi and author on Jewish law (1488–1575) Joseph ben Ephraim Karo , also spelled Yosef Caro , or Qaro ( ; 1488 – March 24, 1575, 13 Nisan 5335 A.M. ), was a Jewish mystic and the author of a codification of Jewish law, the Beit Yosef , and its popular analogue, the Shulhan Arukh .To this end he is often referred to as HaMechaber or "The Author" ( ) and as Maran or "Our Master" ( ).
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 1177018502.
The opening as it stood in 2025 1 passage from the previous snapshot no longer appear
Spanish rabbi and author on Jewish law (1488–1575) Joseph ben Ephraim Karo , also spelled Yosef Caro , or Qaro ( Hebrew : יוסף קארו ; 1488 – March 24, 1575, 13 Nisan 5335 A.M. ), was a prominent Sephardic Jewish rabbi renowned as the author of the last great codification of Jewish law , the Beit Yosef , and its popular analogue, the Shulhan Arukh .Karo is regarded as the preeminent halakhic authority of his time, and is often referred to by the honorific titles HaMechaber ( Hebrew : הַמְחַבֵּר , lit. ' the author ' ) and Maran ( Jewish Babylonian Aramaic : מָרַן , lit. ' our master ' ).Joseph Karo: lawyer and mystic .Jewish questions: responsa on Sephardic life in the early modern period .Princeton, N.J: Princeton University Press. pp. lxi– lxii.
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 1293926482. This is our newest snapshot; the live article may have moved again since.
Today
In 2005 Wikipedia's first sentence called it “one of the most important leaders in the history of halakha”. Today it says “prominent sephardic jewish rabbi renowned as the author of the last great codification of jewish law”. Read the current article and compare.
2005
2010
2015
2020
Oct '23
2025
Counts in the opening at each snapshot. Green: the word gained ground. Red: it was cut. Grey: no change.
What Wikipedia says this is
Every article opens by defining its subject. This one was redefined since 2005, and today's defining sentence is their current revision.
Then
one of the most important leaders in the history of halakha
Now
prominent sephardic jewish rabbi renowned as the author of the last great codification of jewish law
Struck red text is no longer in the article; dotted amber text was rewritten. Every revision id links to Wikipedia's copy; the text shown is our own saved copy. Data: /data. Wikipedia text is CC BY-SA; quoted for the record; not affiliated with Wikipedia.
