Halakhah
Americannoun
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(often lowercase) the entire body of Jewish law and tradition comprising the laws of the Bible, the oral law as transcribed in the legal portion of the Talmud, and subsequent legal codes amending or modifying traditional precepts to conform to contemporary conditions.
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a law or tradition established by the Halakhah.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of Halakhah
First recorded in 1855–60, Halakhah is from the Hebrew word hălākhāh, literally, 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.
Halakhah mandates that abortion is necessary if the woman’s life is in danger.
From Washington Post • Aug. 6, 2019
Buber virtually reduced Halakhah to individual inclination, arguing that its prescriptions were useful only to a Jew who found them personally fulfilling.
From Time Magazine Archive
Though they pledge no formal adherence to strict Halakhah, the students can, like Joan Koehler, be edifyingly tough on themselves.
From Time Magazine Archive
He is famous for being able to talk on Halakhah for hours on end, citing obscure Talmudic judgments without any notes at all.
From Time Magazine Archive
The application of this oral law is called Halakhah, the rules by which a man’s daily “walk” is regulated.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 13, Slice 2 "Hearing" to "Helmond" by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
