Since ancient times the Jewish nation has been ruled by a governments consisting of kings, prophets and the priesthood. These offices were created by God and all office bearers had to be experts in the Torah, the Jewish holy book that can be compared, in terms of its importance, with the Christian Bible. To this day Jewish office bearers, a Florida Rabbi, for instance, must become an expert in the Torah.
The word Ribbi or Rabban, other names for these religious leaders is from the Hebrew term that means My Master or Great One. From the title it is clear that these leaders are held in very high esteem and that they enjoy a great deal of respect from their communities. They are scholarly and they commonly fill important leadership positions within the Jewish community.
The training necessary to become an ordained Ribbi is arduous and last for five years. Most of this time is spent on studies of response and Jewish law. After five years the student is awarded the qualification of Yore yore. The qualification translates as He Shall Teach. A small percentage of students continue to receive a further qualification called Yadin yadin. This means He Shall Judge.
The Jewish faith consists of a number of different movements. There are many disputes between the various movements and they do not always agree on matters of law. Ribbis belonging to the Reconstructive and Reform movements, for example, will accept the leadership of Ribbis from other movements but they reject their reading of the Jewish law. Orthodox and Conservative Ribbis are reluctant to recognize Ribbis from any other movement.
Traditionally only men qualified to be ordained as Ribbis. There are a few notable exceptions, such as Asenath Barzani, who worked as a rabbi among Kurdish Jews in the seventeenth century. With the exception of the Orthodox and some of the more conservative movements this is no longer the case. Women have been ordained for several decades now. Progressive movements will even allow the ordination of openly gay and lesbian people.
In the past the central role of the Ribbi was to interpret the law and to settle disputes within the congregation. The actual management of the congregations was done by lay members of the synagogue. Lately, the role of the Ribbi has changed to include preaching, counseling and leading the congregation. Most Jewish charities and secular organizations also feature Ribbis in their leadership cadres.
Conversion to Judaism is not uncommon, especially in cases where a non Jew wishes to marry a Jew. The requirements for conversion differ wildly between the various denominations but in most cases a conversion is finally approved by a rabbinical court. The convert must become conversant in Jewish law and incorporate Jewish customs and rituals in their daily lives. Converts to a specific movement are not always accepted by other movements within the Jewish faith.
Judaism is not and has never been a single religion. It consists of many different movements and some of them differ significantly. In all the various movements the role of the Rabbi remains central, however. The Ribbi is expected to teach and to interpret the law. They preside at all important ceremonies and they act as leaders of their communities.
The word Ribbi or Rabban, other names for these religious leaders is from the Hebrew term that means My Master or Great One. From the title it is clear that these leaders are held in very high esteem and that they enjoy a great deal of respect from their communities. They are scholarly and they commonly fill important leadership positions within the Jewish community.
The training necessary to become an ordained Ribbi is arduous and last for five years. Most of this time is spent on studies of response and Jewish law. After five years the student is awarded the qualification of Yore yore. The qualification translates as He Shall Teach. A small percentage of students continue to receive a further qualification called Yadin yadin. This means He Shall Judge.
The Jewish faith consists of a number of different movements. There are many disputes between the various movements and they do not always agree on matters of law. Ribbis belonging to the Reconstructive and Reform movements, for example, will accept the leadership of Ribbis from other movements but they reject their reading of the Jewish law. Orthodox and Conservative Ribbis are reluctant to recognize Ribbis from any other movement.
Traditionally only men qualified to be ordained as Ribbis. There are a few notable exceptions, such as Asenath Barzani, who worked as a rabbi among Kurdish Jews in the seventeenth century. With the exception of the Orthodox and some of the more conservative movements this is no longer the case. Women have been ordained for several decades now. Progressive movements will even allow the ordination of openly gay and lesbian people.
In the past the central role of the Ribbi was to interpret the law and to settle disputes within the congregation. The actual management of the congregations was done by lay members of the synagogue. Lately, the role of the Ribbi has changed to include preaching, counseling and leading the congregation. Most Jewish charities and secular organizations also feature Ribbis in their leadership cadres.
Conversion to Judaism is not uncommon, especially in cases where a non Jew wishes to marry a Jew. The requirements for conversion differ wildly between the various denominations but in most cases a conversion is finally approved by a rabbinical court. The convert must become conversant in Jewish law and incorporate Jewish customs and rituals in their daily lives. Converts to a specific movement are not always accepted by other movements within the Jewish faith.
Judaism is not and has never been a single religion. It consists of many different movements and some of them differ significantly. In all the various movements the role of the Rabbi remains central, however. The Ribbi is expected to teach and to interpret the law. They preside at all important ceremonies and they act as leaders of their communities.