halacha

noun

variants or less commonly halakha
often capitalized
: the body of Jewish law supplementing the scriptural law and forming especially the legal part of the Talmud
halachic adjective
or less commonly halakhic
hə-ˈla-kik How to pronounce halacha (audio)
hä-ˈlä-
often capitalized

Examples of halacha in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The grueling hike, organized annually by a Jewish scouting organization, allows Jewish scouts to participate in the movement’s activities while observing halacha, or Jewish law. Jackie Hajdenberg, Sun Sentinel, 24 July 2024 For most, the answer lay in studying the Torah and, generally, the Hebrew Scriptures, and in the observance of halacha, or religious laws, including those governing Shabbat and the kosher diet. James Carroll, The New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2024 Suicide is such a grave violation of halacha, Jewish religious law, that those who kill themselves are often denied burial in Jewish cemeteries. Cnaan Liphshiz, sun-sentinel.com, 26 June 2019 Some of the students are graduates of a three-year program at Nishmat that certifies women as yoetzot halacha, or halachic advisors. Beth Kissileff, sun-sentinel.com, 3 July 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'halacha.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Hebrew halākhāh, literally, way

First Known Use

1856, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of halacha was in 1856

Dictionary Entries Near halacha

Cite this Entry

“Halacha.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/halacha. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

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