Halacha is the name by which the set of Jewish religious rules, which are derived from the Written and Oral Torah, is known. It includes the 613 mitzvot, the Rabbinical Law and also the Talmudic, in addition to the customs and traditions that are grouped in the Shulchan Aruj. According to the traditions of Judaism, there is no distinction in its laws between religious and non-religious life; likewise, the Jewish religious tradition does not clearly distinguish between religious, national, racial or ethnic identities.
Halacha is not only the guide for religious beliefs and practices, but also influences various aspects of everyday life. It is very common that when translating the term Halacha it is done as “Jewish Law”, however a more literal translation would be “way of behaving”.
Halacha has an ethical foundation and it is that the intentions of each individual become true moral acts. Which leads to the halacha system serving as a guide to differentiate between good and evil. In this sense, some of the guidelines that must be followed regarding Halacha:
- In all respects the believing individual must try to find a position of balance.
- Every good Jew must respect and know the Torah.
- Respect for the creator is expressed through the symbolic act of covering the head, it can be a kippah or a kufi, etc.
- The Jewish faith should be an experience that takes place within the community.
- You must have an attitude of maximum respect towards God.
Throughout history, in what was the dispersion of the Jewish people, the Halacha has been of great help to this people, since it has shown the way to follow both religiously and civilly. Subsequently to what became known as the time of Jewish enlightenment, the Halacha was shedding what civil life is, since it required the interpretation of a rabbi, unlike the writings of the Torah. Despite this, there are Israeli laws regarding the status of the person and the family that are under the jurisdiction of the rabbis and for that reason they are assumed under the guidelines established in the Halacha.
