Concept in Definition ABC

In the Jewish religion the Torah is the sacred book par excellence. The content of it can be interpreted in various ways and for this reason in Jewish communities there is a teacher who presents himself as an expert connoisseur of the Torah, the rabbi. Therefore, the rabbi is a spiritual guide and teacher who teaches Jewish doctrine.

The figure of the rabbi in Jewish communities

A rabbi is, above all, a deep connoisseur of the Jewish religion, that is, of the sacred texts, traditions, history and symbolism of Judaism. As for his activities, they can be formative, spiritual or liturgical. In any case, the rabbi is a leader of a Jewish community.

His functions are diverse and some of the most significant are the following

-He is the interpreter of the law the most authoritative Jew within a community.

- Marriages are celebrated in a synagogue and the rabbi is the authority religious that formalizes the union between a man and a woman.

-He is a spiritual advisor and a servant of God who is at the service of his community.

-He is a teacher who teaches the precepts of the Torah and who tries to adapt its content to the context of today's world.

- From a personal point of view it should be a reference moral, an individual whose conduct serve as an example for others to follow.

The appointment of a rabbi

The appointment process depends on a rabbinical court, a institution that is part of a community and that examines the knowledge and human qualities of a candidate for rabbi. In this sense, a rabbi has to know the Torah in depth, know Hebrew and pass a period of training.

In addition to his great knowledge, he must possess certain qualities: a deep faith in Yahweh, honesty, spirit of service to the community and compliance of Jewish law.

The first rabbis

From a historical point of view, the first rabbis emerged from the Pharisees who lived in Israel in the 1st century AD. C during the Roman rule. In this community a small group (the tannaim) were the ones who started the tradition rabbinical and wrote the Mishna, the text in which the Jewish laws and their oral tradition are collected.

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