derech
English
[edit]Etymology
[edit]Noun
[edit]derech (uncountable)
- (Judaism) The path of propriety or righteousness, or especially of Hasidism or Judaism.
- 2019, Abby Chava Stein, Becoming Eve, Seal Press, page 8:
- You see, I had gone off the derech--off the path. To complete my self-determination, to live an authentic life, I would have to leave the community, the most egregious offense imaginable.
Usage notes
[edit]The word "derech" in English is frequently used in the phrase "off the derech", which is an adjective used to refer to ex-Orthodox Jews. While often derogatory, "off the derech" has been reclaimed by some ex-Orthodox Jews.