Rabbi, The

What is the function of a rabbi? What is his purpose and mission? What is he there to accomplish? I would imagine that if you would ask three different rabbis you would probably get three unique responses.

Are “rav” and “rabbi” not synonyms? And why do I need a personal rav? Isn’t it one Torah for everyone?

The word rabbi means “my master” in Hebrew. A rabbi is a religious leader of Jewish people. Some rabbis lead congregations (synagogues), others are teachers, and yet others lead informally. Rabbinic ordination is known as semichah. In common parlance, a r...

Why Rebecca went all the way to Tzefat to ask her question

The community leaders infomed R. Shmelke that they had a special custom: every new rabbi was expected to add a new rule or custom to the chronicles of the community

Shmuel I assume that your question comes from the understanding that living in this world, most jobs or responsibilities require us to report to someone in one way or another. The banker reports to his bank manager, the mailman reports to the postmaster, ...

At a ceremony marking the recent ordination of new rabbis at the Chabad-Lubavitch yeshiva in Antwerp, Belgium, the festivities placed a spotlight on the city's business leaders.

Do sermons really work? Can the words of any one individual really have an effect on the way people live their lives? Is anyone out there actually listening? (Reading?) Rabbis are probably unrealistic when they anticipate dramatic results from their sermo...

"I went to a psychiatrist and he helped me solve my problem," said the compulsive shoplifter. "I don't feel guilty anymore"

As a rabbi, I am often asked to pray for people. This one is in need of a blessing for improved health, the other wants to earn a better living, and so it goes.