herem

See also: herêm

English

Alternative forms

• cherem

Etymology

Transliteration of Hebrew חֵרֶם (ḥērem). Doublet of haram and harem.

Noun

herem (countable and uncountable, plural herems)

1. (Judaism) A prohibition enacted by rabbinic authority.
   • 1998, David Rossoff, “The Battle Cry”, in Where Heaven Touches Earth:

     Six months after the Brisker Rav's arrival in 1878, he reinstated the cherem against any changes in the educational system.

   • 2024, David Golinkin, “Is Mixed Dancing Really Forbidden At Weddings?”, in Responsa in a Moment, volume 4, page 235:

     Rabbi David Hacohen of Corfu supported a ḥerem against dancing by men with married women.

2. (Judaism) The exclusion of a person from the Jewish community.
   • 2006 March 23, Chris McGreal, “Settlers don't know when the knock on the door will come and they have to leave”, in The Guardian‎:

     Mr Raz said he was fired from his job at the settlement council six months ago because of his involvement in the campaign and a rabbi placed him in "herem", an ancient religious practice requiring that a wayward person be ostracised.

Further reading

• herem (censure) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Anagrams

• rehem, rheme