halacha

noun

ha·​la·​cha hä-ˈlä-ḵə  ˌhä-lə-ˈḵä 

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 

hä-ˈlä-

often capitalized

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

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

Word History

Etymology

Hebrew halākhāh, literally, way

First Known Use

1856, in the meaning defined above