halakhic

Halakhic is an adjective relating to halakhah, the system of Jewish religious law. Derived from Hebrew halakhah, it concerns the normative rules governing Jewish ritual, ethics, and daily life as interpreted by rabbinic authorities. Halakhah itself draws from the Written Torah and the Oral Torah, including the Talmud, and is expanded in later codifications and commentaries.

A halakhic ruling, or psak halakhah, is a decision issued by a posek (legal authority) or a rabbinic court (beit din) after examining sources, precedents, and practical considerations. The process uses a method of legal reasoning that weighs textual evidence, rational argument, and communal consequences.

Halakhic practice is not monolithic. Different communities and movements may accept different authorities. Orthodox communities generally follow specific posekim; Conservative and other streams also issue halakhic decisions, sometimes with different conclusions. In modern settings, halakhah addresses new questions arising from medicine, technology, business, and civil life, such as bioethics, organ donation, or digital privacy, by applying existing principles to novel situations.

In usage, halakhic describes matters governed by halakhah, or the method of making such rulings. For example, a halakhic question about Shabbat observance, kashrut, or family law, might require a detailed ruling that is labeled halakhic.

Halakhic discourse contrasts with aggadic literature that deals with narratives and theology rather than law.