Halachoth

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A set of Jewish legal rules and interpretations guiding daily life and religious practices
2. Normative laws derived from the Torah that dictate proper conduct and obligations
3. Principles outlining the legal framework of Judaism, often debated and contextualized in religious discourse

Etymology: Halachoth is the plural of "halacha", the Hebrew term for the body of Jewish religious law, and the plural form is the one English readers meet most often in discussions of Jewish legal tradition. The singular "halacha" comes from a Hebrew root meaning "to walk" or "to go," so the term literally denotes a path or way of conduct. In Jewish usage, that path is the prescribed way of living that the law lays out, and the word came to mean the law itself rather than any single ruling. Because the singular and plural both appear in English, the plural is used when speaking of many individual laws or rulings taken together, while "halacha" as a singular names the system or a specific rule considered as part of it.

Synonyms: Halacha, Jewish law, Torah law