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The Role of the Rabbi

The word rabbi means “teacher,” and teaching has been the job of the rabbi for almost two thousand years. Some rabbis through the ages have achieved great acclaim as a result of their wisdom, leadership, and holiness. The word rabbi can be used to mean “teacher” in venues other than religion; for example, a professional athlete might give homage to his mentor by saying, “He was my rabbi.”

Modern American rabbis graduate from a rabbinical seminary after four to five years of graduate study. Each rabbi is ordained by the seminary from which they graduate.

As is the case in other modern religious groups, the role of the rabbi has changed through the years and now encompasses a greater degree of leadership, management, and counseling than ever before. It is reasonable to say that the rabbi sets the tone for the synagogue and congregation.

As representatives of their congregations and the Jewish faith, rabbis sometimes find themselves in positions of conflict. This might occur when the rabbi and the congregation that hired him or her disagree on volatile issues such as military conflicts, intermarriage, or local community actions. The rabbi may believe that Jewish law or tradition calls for one particular action when the members of the congregation desire another. Thus, rabbis often have to walk a fine line. Since the rabbi is hired by the congregation and given a contract, this contract might not be renewed if the congregation is displeased with the rabbi’s decisions or behavior. Likewise, the rabbi can choose to go elsewhere at the end of the contract period.

Marriage has never been forbidden to rabbis, and most lead conventional lives, except for the fact that they must often be available during times of need or crisis. They are actively involved in congregational activities, synagogue worship, and religious education. Rabbis often represent the Jewish view in community functions and take part in the many marriages, funerals, and other family events and crises that occur on a regular basis.

Above all, a rabbi is expected to be wise in the ways of Judaism, to be well versed in the Jewish tradition, to be compassionate when dealing with human frailties and needs, and to live by a high ethical standard. Add to this the fact that many congregations expect the rabbi to have a great personality, give terrific sermons, and tell good (but not off-color) jokes, and you have a job that presents quite a challenge.

One of the most clever rabbis I ever met was able to deliver sermons that kept me on the edge of my chair, and he was witty beyond belief. The congregation, however, was not as appreciative of him as I was, and his contract was not renewed. A rabbi in another congregation I attended was a very nice guy and was loved by all the children; when his contract expired, he was lured to a larger congregation in a bigger city and made the move in much the same way as a free-agent ball player jumps from one team to another. As a matter of fact, the rabbi of the congregation in which I grew up played minor league baseball before choosing to enter the rabbinate and, for many years, was a “ringer” on the synagogue softball team. He served the same congregation for his entire career, was made rabbi emeritus on his retirement, and was so honored until his death.

Just about all the rabbis I’ve known manage to tell good jokes (“A rabbi, a priest, and a chicken walk into a bar ...”).