Halakha
Halakha (הֲלָכָה)
Halakha (pronounced: ha·la·kha, Hebrew: הֲלָכָה) is the collective body of Jewish religious laws derived from the Written and Oral Torah. It includes the 613 Mitzvot, subsequent Talmudic and Rabbinic Law, as well as customs and traditions.
Etymology
The term "Halakha" is derived from the Hebrew root הלך (halakh), which means "to walk" or "to go". In this context, it can be interpreted as "the path" or "the way of walking".
Components of Halakha
Halakha is composed of the Mishnah, the Gemara, and the Midrash. The Mishnah is the first written recording of the Oral Torah of the Jewish people. The Gemara is the portion of the Talmud that contains rabbinical commentary and analysis of the Mishnah. The Midrash is a method of interpreting biblical stories that goes beyond simple distillation of religious, legal, or moral teachings.
Related Terms
- Mitzvot: Commandments in the Torah.
- Talmud: The central text of Rabbinic Judaism and the primary source of Jewish religious law and theology.
- Rabbinic Law: The interpretation and application of the laws of the Torah by the rabbis.
- Mishnah: The first major written collection of the Jewish oral traditions.
- Gemara: The component of the Talmud comprising rabbinical analysis of and commentary on the Mishnah.
- Midrash: Biblical exegesis by ancient Judaic authorities.
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