Rabbinic

[ruh-bin-ik]

noun

1. the Hebrew language as used by rabbis in post-Biblical times.

Rabbinic

¹

/ rəˈbɪnɪk /

noun

1. the form of the Hebrew language used by the rabbis of the Middle Ages

rabbinic

²

/ rəˈbɪnɪkəl, rəˈbɪnɪk /

adjective

1. of or relating to the rabbis, their teachings, writings, views, language, etc

Other Word Forms

• rabbinically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of Rabbinic¹

1605–15; < Medieval Latin rabbīn ( us ) of a rabbi ¹ + -ic

Example Sentences

Roth, in Mr. Zipperstein’s telling, probed Jewish life—and its collision with American ambition—with more fidelity than any rabbinic sermon could offer.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum, co-chair of J Street’s Rabbinic and Cantorial Cabinet, explains how the Heritage Foundation’s newly-launched “Project Esther,” hijacks the spirit of Purim and is a “deep disservice to its namesake by focusing narrowly on left-wing critics of Israel while ignoring surging right-wing antisemitism”:

Read more on Salon

The organization T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights said Israel’s priority should be getting back those taken hostage.

Read more on Slate

But to borrow from rabbinic literature, hamevin yavin: Those who know, know.

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It is easy to dwell on the rabbinic rewriting of the Chanukah story as a rejection of Jewish military power—and to imagine the ancient rabbis having the same reaction to the power being wielded right now by the modern State of Israel.

Read more on Slate