halakah
Noun: 1. The legal part of Talmudic literature: Halakah refers to the body of Jewish law that encompasses the legal rulings, statutes, and interpretations derived from the written Torah (the Hebrew Scriptures) and the oral traditions. It constitutes the normative, binding rules of Jewish religious practice and daily life. 2. A specific legal ruling or tradition: It can also refer to an individual law, decision, or accepted custom within this system.
- Noun:
- The rabbi's lecture focused on the halakah concerning dietary restrictions.
- Studying halakah is essential for understanding traditional Jewish observance.
- This specific halakah about Sabbath observance has been debated for centuries.
- "To be a matter of halakah": Indicates that something is a question of formal religious law, not just custom or opinion.
- Whether this food is kosher is not just a preference; it's a matter of halakah.
- Halakhic (adj): Pertaining to or in accordance with halakah.
- The committee sought a halakhic solution to the modern problem.
- Halakhist (n): A scholar or expert in halakah.
- Jewish law
- Halachah (an alternate common transliteration)
This term is specifically rooted in Judaism and Rabbinic literature. It is distinct from Aggadah (or Haggadah), which is the non-legal, narrative, and homiletic part of Talmudic literature comprising stories, parables, and ethical teachings. Halakah is concerned with the "way to walk" or the practical path of religious life.
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Talmudic literature that deals with law and with the interpretation of the laws on the Hebrew Scriptures
