What is a rabbi?

Teacher, not priest

In Judaism the priests (kohanim) were the descendants of Aaron who served in the Temple. Rabbis are scholars. The title “Rabbi” came into use in the time of the Mishnah for ordained sages. Pirkei Avot advises: “Make for yourself a teacher (rav)” – everyone should have someone to learn from and ask.

Ordination

Traditional ordination is given after years of study of the Talmud and the codes, especially the laws of kashrut, Shabbat and family life, and an examination by senior rabbis. A community rabbi teaches, answers questions, guides at life events, supervises institutions such as the mikveh and the kosher certification, and cares for the community.

Different roles

A posek decides complex questions of law; a rosh yeshiva heads a Talmudic academy; a dayan sits on a rabbinic court; a Hasidic Rebbe is a spiritual leader of a Hasidic group.

Women and the rabbinate

Reform, Reconstructionist and Conservative Judaism ordain women as rabbis (since 1972, 1974 and 1985 in the US respectively). Orthodox Judaism ordains men as rabbis; some Orthodox institutions train women as halachic advisers (yo’atzot halacha) and scholars. The question is debated within Orthodoxy.

How to address and find one

In conversation a rabbi is addressed as “Rabbi” followed by the surname, or simply “Rabbi”; Sephardim often say “Rav” or “Chacham”. Anyone with a practical question – about kashrut, Shabbat, mourning or a family event – can ask a local rabbi; there is no fee and no requirement to belong to his congregation. A rabbi’s answer applies to the specific case, which is why general articles like this one always end with “ask your rabbi”.