From the Hebrew word for "walk," the "way" or "procedure" for acting according to the biblical commandments and thus living an ethical life. As part of oral Torah, these traditions about legal and ritual matters appear in rabbinic literature, and are to be distinguished from haggadic traditions which concern historical or theological matters (see akhlaq, the Muslim equivalent).

(adj. halakic; Hebrew for "going," i.e. how we go about our daily lives) Deals with practical guidance, rules, and expectations in Judaism; any normative Jewish law, custom, practice, or rite-or the entire complex; halaka is law established or custom ratified by authoritative rabbinic jurists and teachers; colloquially, if something is deemed halakic, it is considered proper and normative behavior.