קהל

קָהָלm. (b. h.; preced.) gathering, congregation. Y.Hor.I, 46a bot. (ref. to Num. 15:24, העדה) כל השבטים קרויין ק׳ all tribes together are called ḳahal; כל שבט … ק׳ every tribe for itself is called ḳ.; Bab. ib. 3a … כגון רובו של ק׳וכ׳ when six tribes have sinned, and they form the majority of the congregation (the entire people) Ib. הני הוא דאיקרו ק׳ only they (the entire people) are called ḳ.Kidd.73a קְהַל ודאי a community of Israelites of undoubted legitimacy; קְ׳ ספק of doubtful legitimacy; Y.Yeb.VIII, 9b bot. קָ׳ ברור; קְ׳ ספק. Ib. (read:) ארבע קְהִילּוֹת אינון קְ׳יי׳ קְ׳ כהניםוכ׳ four communities are meant by ‘the congregation of the Lord (Deut. 23:2; 3; 4; 9): the community of priests, of Levites, of Israelites, and of proselytes. Mish. ib. VIII, 2 ואינן … אלא מלבא בק׳ and they are forbidden only to enter the congregation (to intermarry with Israelites); a. fr.Pl., v. קְהִלָּה.