Qahal
Definition, Meaning & Examples
Part of speech noun
Quick meaning: Qahal is a noun meaning Alternative form of kahal (local governing body of a former European Jewish community).
Meaning
Alternative form of kahal (local governing body of a former European Jewish community).
More Meanings
- (historical) A theocratic organizational structure in ancient Israelite society; congregation, assembly.
Example Sentences
When Solomon's temple is consecrated, the qahal of Israel gathers to be blessed (1 Kgs. 8:14), and when Ezra intervenes with drastic means to preserver the restored Israel, it is the qahal that acts before God (Ezra 10:12-14).
Other examples could be mentioned, such as the fact that although Jewish communities were initially permitted to retain their local self-government in the form of the qahal, they could not keep their broader, empire-wide institutions, which had long existed in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, as these did not fit in with the desired enlightened-absolutist social order.
Word Forms
- qahals
Related Words
Related dictionary entries include kahal, kehillah, ecclesia, qinah, congregation, kvutza.
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Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.