The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (38 page)

see
ANAFITES
.

 
Back
  -  
 
New Search

Academies
.

An established gathering of Jewish scholars. The
Talmudic
terms are yeshivot (‘sitting’), also
bet ha-midrash
(Heb., ‘House of Study’),
bet din
gadol
(Heb., ‘the great house of law’), and
metivta rabba
(Aram., ‘the great session’). After the destruction of the Temple in 70 CE, several academies were founded, the most famous being that of
Johanan b. Zakkai
at
Jabneh
. Later academics were established in Babylonia at
Sura
and
Pumbedita
which survived until approximately the middle of the 11th cent. CE. The Academy on High (
yeshivah shel ma’lah
) is a rabbinic belief in an assembly in heaven of scholars and others who acquired merit on earth, by studying and keeping Torah. To be ‘summoned by the Academy on High’ is a euphemism for death. Academies may also refer to institutions in other religions, e.g.
sojae
(private academies) and shrine schools in Korea.

 
Back
  -  
 
New Search

(Skt., ‘cleansing of mouth’). Washing out the mouth, in Hinduism, in order to purify what enters and what leaves it.

 
Back
  -  
 
New Search

c
ra
.

Hindu term for custom and for law and behaviour according to custom—as in
Manusm
ti
, where, e.g., rules of behaviour for different
castes
are laid down. The opposite are
viruddha-
c
r
(conduct contrary to custom) and
bhrash
c
r
(fallen out of customary use). See also
C
RYA
.