[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/custom.html) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/) / [The Judaism dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/) / custom [← C](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/C/) # custom «custom» in Mova's judaism dictionary: **a way of doing something that people in a place or group…** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 5 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it. ### part of speech noun (custom, customs; customs — at a border); adjective (custom — made specially, especially in the USA: custom-made) ### meaning for a pupil 1) A custom is a way of doing something that people in a place or group have done for a long time: it is a custom to give presents at Christmas. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/custom/#m1) 2) A custom is a habit of a person: it was his custom to walk after dinner. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/custom/#m2) 3) Customs is the place at an airport or border where officers check what people bring into the country. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/custom/#m3) 4) Custom-made means made specially for one person. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/custom/#m4) ### sense in the lessons In the Tanakh and Jewish tradition: Customs here are the ways and practices of the Canaanite nations, which Israel is told not to follow. In the Prophets it can also mean an ordinary, accepted practice in Israel, such as the way priests took their share. Interpretation: The tradition reads this as a call to keep Israel distinct and holy. Later Jewish law also treats good custom (minhag) as important, but these are the idolatrous ones. Jeremiah calls the customs of the peoples empty, meaning idol worship. In the primary lessons: In social studies and religious education, pupils compare customs of different countries and cultures: greetings, food, festivals, table manners — understanding that customs differ is good manners when abroad. In travel: going through customs after a flight. Phrases: local custom, an old custom, it's the custom to, go through customs, customs officer, custom-made. ### examples - And ye shall not walk in the customs of the nation, which I am casting out before you; for they did all these things, and therefore I abhorred them. (Torah LEV.20.23, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/custom/#x1) - Therefore shall ye keep My charge, that ye do not any of these abominable customs, which were done before you, and that ye defile not yourselves therein: I am the LORD your God. (Torah LEV.18.30, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/custom/#x2) - And it was a custom in Israel, (Prophets JDG.11.39, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/custom/#x3) - For the customs of the peoples are vanity; for it is but a tree which one cutteth out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman with the axe. (Prophets JER.10.3, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/custom/#x4) - And the custom of the priests with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the flesh was in seething, with a flesh-hook of three teeth in his band; (Prophets 1SA.2.13, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/custom/#x5) - It's a custom in Japan to bow when you greet someone. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/custom/#x6) - In our family, it's a custom to eat pancakes on Shrove Tuesday. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/custom/#x7) - We went through customs at the airport. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/custom/#x8) - The customs officer checked our bags. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/custom/#x9) - Learn the local customs before you travel. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/custom/#x10) - His bike was custom-made for him. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/custom/#x11) - Thank him according to our customs, Mowgli.” [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/custom/#x12) ### note Countable: customs. «Customs» (at a border) is always plural in form. Related words: customary (usual), customer (a person who buys). Do not confuse «custom» with «costume» (special clothes). ### In the corpora - [And it was a custom in Israel,](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/neviim/jps/JDG.379/) - [Having many wives was a custom of some old kings; today in most countries a person may be married to only one person.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/books/96-justso-butterfly-1-the-boast/21/) - [Customs differ between countries, and learning them before you visit avoids upsetting people.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/124-handshakes-waves-and-local-customs/20/) - [A child new to the country is still learning the customs, so explain kindly how things work.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/226-compliments-and-respecting-differences/21/) - [Showing respect means asking polite questions, using kind greetings and never mocking someone's food, clothes or customs.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/309-respecting-festivals-of-classmates/15/) ### Trees and pragmatics [Every meaning and example of «custom» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/custom/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.