cherem

Pronunciations

Definitions

  • n. "Excommunication; ostracism" (Yiddish).

Example Sentences

  • "Early in their history, all Hasidim were put in cherem by the rabbinic establishment of the time."

  • "If he is really guilty of fraud he should be put into cherem." (Glinert)

Languages of Origin

  • Textual Hebrew
  • Yiddish

Etymology

  • Heb חרם khérem, Yiddish חרם khéyrem

    • Who Uses This

      • Orthodox: Jews who identify as Orthodox and observe halacha (Jewish law)

      Regions

      • North America
      • Great Britain
      • South Africa
      • Australia / New Zealand

      Dictionaries

      • Yiddish and English: A Century of Yiddish in America, by Sol Steinmetz (Tuscaloosa, 1986).
      • The Joys of Hebrew, by Lewis Glinert (New York, 1992).

      Alternative Spellings

      herem, kheyrem, kherem

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