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How Do I Choose a Rabbi?



Question:

I've got a few choices here in town of different styles and flavors of rabbis and congregations. How do I choose? Is there a simple test to determine who is fit to be my rabbi?

--Choosing Jew

Answer:

Dear Choosing,

Here are two litmus tests you can administer to any rabbi. You'll need a stopwatch:

Test #1:

  • Ask the rabbi, "Rabbi, do you believe in G-d?"
  • Start the stopwatch.
  • When you hear the word, "yes", stop the watch and record the time.

Test #2:

  • Ask the rabbi, "Okay, let's say they tie you to a post on a pile of kerosene-soaked wood and these guys in black hoods standing around with torches who look like they've done this before tell you, "Just say that this Judaism stuff is a bunch of nonsense and we'll let you go." Your answer is...?
  • Start the stopwatch.
  • When you hear the words Shma Yisrael... ("Hear O Israel, G-d is our G-d, G-d is one") or some other convincing show of absolute commitment, stop the watch and record the time.

Results:

  • 0-2 seconds: That's why we are still here today.
  • 3-10 seconds: Okay, maybe he was just shocked by the question.
  • 11 seconds to never: If he doesn't really believe in it, why should we?

Sources: Test #1 is the invention of Dr. Judah Landes, a psychologist who used it to determine his rabbi when he was a senior researcher at Stanford. Test #2 was also used many times, but for less honorable purposes and not by psychologists.

Send in your results!


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By Tzvi Freeman   More articles...  |   RSS Listing of Newest Articles by this Author
Rabbi Tzvi Freeman heads Chabad.org's Ask The Rabbi team, and is a senior member of the Chabad.org editorial team. He is the author of a number of highly original renditions of Kabbalah and Chassidic teaching, including the universally acclaimed "Bringing Heaven Down to Earth." To order Tzvi's books click here. Rabbi Freeman is available for public speaking and workshops. Read more on his bio page.
Image: Detail from a work by chassidic artist Shoshannah Brombacher. To view or purchase Ms Brombacher's art, click here

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Reader Comments
Latest Comments:
Posted: Oct 17, 2009
For John Morrison
I guess that at least proves that he's Jewish.
Posted By Rabbi Tzvi Freeman

Posted: Oct 16, 2009
Choosing a Rabbi
I love this article.

But what do you do if the response to question #1 is "Why?"
Posted By John Morrison, Victoria, Canada

Posted: Feb 22, 2008
Obvious reasons
Not obvious unless she knows the laws of modesty etc

Many? What are the others?
Posted By Robert Tuchman



 


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