Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

Halacha

American  
[hah-law-khuh, hah-lah-khah, hah-law-khaw] / hɑˈlɔ xə, hɑ lɑˈxɑ, ˌhɑ lɔˈxɔ /

noun

(often lowercase)
  • Halachas,
    plural
  • Halachoth,
    plural
  • Halachot,
    plural
  • Halachos
    plural
  1. Halakhah.


Halacha British  
/ hɑlɑˈxɑː, hɑˈloxə /

noun

    1. Jewish religious law

    2. a ruling on some specific matter

    1. that part of the Talmud which is concerned with legal matters as distinct from homiletics

    2. Jewish legal literature in general

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

Etymology

Origin of Halacha

from Hebrew hǎlākhāh way

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

In 1960 the Interior Ministry, dominated by Orthodox Jews, ru'ed that the Halacha would determine whether an immigrant could enter Israel under the 1950 Law of Return, which makes any Jew automatically eligible for citizenship.

From Time Magazine Archive

The best translations—single treatises have been put into modern languages—fail to convey an adequate idea of the discussions and method that evolved the Halacha.

From Jewish Literature and Other Essays by Gustav Karpeles

The collective work of the nation and the trend of history have left much plainer traces in the Agada than in the dry, methodical Halacha.

From Jewish History : an essay in the philosophy of history by S. M. (Simon Markovich) Dubnow

Then came a voice from the Lord and said, 'Both these and those are the words of the living God, but yet the Halacha is according to the school of Hillel.'

From Hebraic Literature; Translations from the Talmud, Midrashim and Kabbala by Various

The two Midrashic systems emphasize respectively the rule of law and the sway of liberty: Halacha is law incarnate; Haggada, liberty regulated by law and bearing the impress of morality.

From Jewish Literature and Other Essays by Gustav Karpeles

Three thousand Halachoth were forgotten at the time of mourning for Moses, and among them the Halachah respecting an animal intended for a sin-offering the owner of which died before sacrificing it.

From Hebraic Literature; Translations from the Talmud, Midrashim and Kabbala by Various

These Midrashim have little or nothing to do with the Halachoth or legal decisions of the Talmud, except in aim, which is that of illustration and explanation.

From Hebraic Literature; Translations from the Talmud, Midrashim and Kabbala by Various

He may not read the Bible, the Talmud, the Midrash, the Halachoth, or the Haggadoth, excepting such portions as he is not in the habit of reading, such he may then read.

From Hebraic Literature; Translations from the Talmud, Midrashim and Kabbala by Various

That applies to the Law, the Prophets, and the Hagiographa, which were given in writing, but not to the Halachoth, the Midrashim, the Aggadoth, and the Talmud, which were given by the mouth.

From Hebraic Literature; Translations from the Talmud, Midrashim and Kabbala by Various

"There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard;" these are the Halachoth.

From Hebraic Literature; Translations from the Talmud, Midrashim and Kabbala by Various

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Just like flashcards, but way more fun

Don't take our word for it. Leave the boring studying behind and join VocabTrainer today. You'll learn even faster and never look back.

Take me to Vocabulary.com