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.’

   • 2025 February 1, Ross Douthat, “Looking for Faith? Here’s a Guide to Choosing a Religion.”, in The New York Times‎^[1], →ISSN:

     You could find crucifixes as well as crystals, Christian mysticism alongside astrological charts, Buddhist self-help and Judaica sharing shelf space with Wiccan texts, Bibles cheek by jowl with copies of “Women Who Run With the Wolves.”

Adjective

Judaica (not comparable)

1. (very formal) Pertaining to the Jews, their culture or their religion.

   Synonyms: (more commonly) Jewish, Judaic

Related terms

• Judaic

See also

• Hebraica