Implications of Term the 'Rabbi'
The title "Rabbi," says the
authoritative Encyclopaedia
Judaica is derived from the
noun "ray" which in biblical
Hebrew means "great"; in
mishnak Hebrew, the word
"ray" means a master as
opposed to a slave. In the
generation after HiIlel, it was
first employed as a title for
sages. The word "Rabbi"
-means literally "my master"
and not "teacher" as popu-
larly misunder-stood. Since
the title was accorded only
to those who had been prop-
erly ordained, and such ordi-
nation was not granted in
talmudic times outside Is-
rael, it was not borne by the
Babylonian sages, the Am-
oraim, who adopted, or were
granted, the alternative title
of "ray."
The rabbi of the Talmud
was completely different
from the present-day holder
of the title. The talinudic
rabbi was an interpreter and
expounder of the Bible and
the Oral Law, and usually
had an occupation for his
liVelihood. It was only in the
Middle Ages that the rabbi
became the teacher, preach-
er, and spiritual head of the
Jewish congregation or com-
munity, says the Encyclope-
dia Judaica.
From the 14th Century on-
ward there emerged the con-
cept of one rabbi for one lo-
cality, the "mara de-atra,"
"the master of the locality."
In today's huge concentra-
tions of Jews in modern cit-
ies, the concept of "mara de-
atra" is vanishing; the rabbi
here is mainly the rabbi of
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS a synagogue congregation.
In the Reform movement the
24—Friday, Dec. 6, 1974
very concept of rabbi has
changed: he becomes to a
large degree a priest order-
Selectric
ing the prayer service and
Factors Sealed
leading it.
$ 368"
The function of the modern
Add 'n Type
rallbi varies somewhat from
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3994888;
coup fly to country, though
there are lines of similarity.
Preaching ,occupies a place
of prime importance. The
rabbi is expected to devote
much of his time to pastoral
work, establishing a personal
bond between 'himself and his
congregation, visiting the
sick, officiating at bar mitz-
vas, marriages, funerals, and
houses of mourning. He takes
part in all social, educational
and philanthropic activities
of the congregation. Above
all, he is looked to as the
spokesman of the Jewish
community to the larger com-
munity.
In the United States, Can-
ada, and England, and in
other countries where yeshiva
education developed, a re-
turn to the old conception is
apparent within limited pock-
ets of strict Orthodox Juda-
ism.
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