Judaica

See also: judaica

English

Sample Judaica – Shabbat candlesticks, natla (handwashing cup), Chumash and Tanakh, yad (Torah pointer), shofar, and etrog box

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin iūdaica, neuter plural of iūdaicus (“Jewish”), from Hebrew יְהוּדָה (Yehuda, “Judah”). By surface analysis, Juda +‎ -ica. Doublet of giudecca.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /d͡ʒuˈdeɪ̯.ɪ.kə/

Noun

Judaica (uncountable)

1. Artifacts, or less commonly, matters pertaining to the Jews, their culture or their religion, particularly ritual objects.
   • 2002, Zadie Smith, The Autograph Man, Penguin Books (2003), page 32:

     ‘We were just talking about Josephʼs collection — about the Judaica.’

Adjective

Judaica (not comparable)

1. Pertaining to the Jews, their culture or their religion.

Usage notes

• As an adjective, quite formal and Latinate; Jewish or Judaic are more common.

Synonyms

• Jewish
• Judaic

Related terms

• Judaic

See also

• Hebraica