qahal

plural qahals · alternative Qahal

1. historicalA theocratic organizational structure in ancient Israelite society; congregation, assembly.

   When Solomon's temple is consecrated, the qahal of Israel gathers to be blessed (1 Kgs. 8:14), and when Ezra intervenes with drastic means to preserver the restored Israel, it is the qahal that acts before God (Ezra 10:12-14).

   2010, Bo Giertz, Christ's Church: Her Biblical Roots, Her Dramatic History, Her Saving Presence, Her Glorious Future

2. alternativeAlternative form of kahal (local governing body of a former European Jewish community)

   1 more example

   Other examples could be mentioned, such as the fact that although Jewish communities were initially permitted to retain their local self-government in the form of the qahal, they could not keep their broader, empire-wide institutions, which had long existed in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, as these did not fit in with the desired enlightened-absolutist social order.

   2010, Hans-Christian Petersen, Antisemitism in Eastern Europe: History and Present in Comparison