The Role, History, and Ordination of the Rabbi in Judaism
A rabbi is a spiritual leader or religious teacher in Judaism. The word comes from the Mishnaic Hebrew construct רְבִּי rǝbbī, meaning 'Master [Name]'; the standard Hebrew noun is רב rav 'master'. Rav is also used as a title for rabbis, as are rabbeinu ('our master') and ha-rav ('the master'). The Hebrew root in turn derives from the Semitic root ר-ב-ב (R-B-B), which in Biblical Aramaic means 'great' in many senses, including 'revered', but appears primarily as a prefix in construct forms.
Historical Development
The basic form of the rabbi developed between the Second Temple (167 BCE–73 CE)—being heavily influenced by the Pharisees—and Rabbinic periods (70–640 CE), when learned teachers assembled to codify Judaism's written and oral laws. The title "rabbi" was first used in the first century CE. These learned teachers overlapped with historical rabbinic sages such as:
- Tannaim
- Amoraim
- Savoraim
- Geonim
- Rishonim
- Acharonim
In more recent centuries, the duties of a rabbi became increasingly influenced by the duties of the Protestant Christian minister, hence the title "pulpit rabbis." Further, in 19th-century Germany and the United States, rabbinical activities such as delivering sermons, pastoral counseling, and representing the community to the outside all increased in importance.
Education and Ordination
A person becomes a rabbi by being ordained by another rabbi—known as semikhah—following a course of study of Jewish history and texts. This educational path includes the study of:
- The Tanakh
- Midrash
- Mishnah and Tosefta
- Talmud
- Halakha
- Rabbinic commentaries
Denominational Requirements
Within the various Jewish denominations, there are different requirements for rabbinic ordination, and differences in opinion regarding who is recognized as a rabbi. Non-Orthodox movements, including Conservative Judaism, Reform Judaism, Reconstructionist Judaism, and Jewish Renewal, have set their requirements for semikhah based on differing justifications.
Overview of Denominational Requirements
| Movement | Basis for Semikhah |
|---|---|
| Conservative Judaism | Halakhic reasons |
| Reform Judaism | Ethical reasons |
| Reconstructionist Judaism | Ethical reasons |