How does one become a Rabbi?

[Khadaji]

I was reading a story about a Rabbi and I realized I know very little about them. How does one become one? What other information do non-Jews usually not know or get wrong (regarding Rabbis)?

[Hello Again]

You go to Rabbinical School, for example at the Jewish Theological Seminary which takes 5 years and usually includes a Master's of Arts along the way.

A friend of mine is in Rabbinical school at JTS. He did not have a very religious upbringing and had to have a "remedial" year in addition to the basic 5.

[cmkeller]

JTS is the primary ordination school for Conservative Judaism. At the more liberal end of the spectrum, the Reform have Hebrew Union College, and at the less liberal end (it sounds weird to say "more conservative" than the Conservative movement, but that is the truth...the Conservative movement broke away from Reform, and are Conservative relative to them), there are numberous Orthodox Yeshivos that offer ordination. The best-known (and no doubt with the best web site) is the Rabbeinu Yitzchok Elchanan Rabbinical Seminary (a division of Yeshiva University), but many others exist as well. One that's right down the block from where I live (not by coincidence, I moved there because I had learned in that place, though not as an ordination candidate) is the Rabbinical Seminary of America. There are many, many others, including Mesivta Tifereth Jerusalem in lower Manhattan and Staten Island, the Mirrer Yeshiva in Brooklyn and Jerusalem, Beth Midrash Govoha in Lakewood, NJ, Yeshiva Ner Israel in Baltimore amongst non-Hasidic yeshivos, and many Hasidic Yeshivos as well. The important thing about Rabbinical ordination amongst Orthodox Jews is that it be conferred by a Rabbi who has ordination himself. The multitude of ordination seminaries reflects a lack of any (earthly) central controlling authority for Othodox Judaism as a whole and, thank G-d, an abundance of Rabbis capable and dedicated to teaching Torah.

[RickG]

In more abstract terms, becoming a Rabbi requires that another Rabbi give one smicha (I'm not sure what the literal translation is, but it amounts to ordination.) The idea is that there is a theoretically unbroken line of smicha at least from the earliest days of Rabbinic Judaism or possibly earlier.

In practical terms, each movement in Judaism has its own requirements for receiving ordination--a course of study and examination by experienced Rabbis, and organized educational institutions. As mentioned, Conservative Judaism (with which I am affiliated) has the JTS (in NY) and the University of Judaism (in LA), and one or two yeshivas in Israel; the Reform movement has Hebrew Union; there are a few institutions for the smaller liberal streams of Judaism; and a large number of Orthodox Yeshivot.

Reb Keller will correct me if I am wrong, but I understand that in the Orthodox world there are different levels of smicha that represent the ability of the Rabbi to give halachic (Jewish legal) decisions about certain subjects.

One should note at this point that Rabbis are *not* priests--the distinguishing feature of a Rabbi is that he (or she, in those branches that ordain women) has binding legal authority in certain situations. Rabbis typically are also considered authorities on teaching religious matters to their followers. They have, in the modern world, also taken on pastoral duties (counseling of congregants, for example). They are not, however, required for any religious rituals (like weddings or synagogue services, although they have been granted secular authority to legally marry people in most places).

More information than you probably needed, but what the heck.

Rick ;j

[uglybeech]

Once they've received the smicha can they be the equivalent of defrocked ? Or are they always a Rabbi?

[RickG]

Originally Posted by uglybeech

Once they've received the smicha can they be the equivalent of defrocked ? Or are they always a Rabbi?

From what little I know of how this works in Conservative Judaism, there is an organization of Conservative Rabbis called the Rabbinical Assembly. If you violate certain behavioral standards, you can be kicked out of that organization. That doesn't stop you from having a congregation, if they'll have you, but the congregation may have their membership in the United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism (the organizing body of our movement) revoked as a result.

What may then happen is that your halachic decisions would not be recognized by other Rabbis or lay people (like, for example, conversions on which you served as a member of the beit din, or panel of judges). Because there is no Pope in Judaism, and really no centralized authority at all ("I hate organized religion. That's why I'm a Jew!"), it's really all about whether or not the community recognizes your authority. Now, if other communities don't recognize your authority, that can lead to problems between communities, some fairly serious. So, one should avoid violating standards in order that one's community not be "shunned," for lack of a better word. This starts to get into some of the most serious problems between the different streams of Judaism, which is probably a topic for Great Debates.

Rick

[cmkeller]

RickG:

In more abstract terms, becoming a Rabbi requires that another Rabbi give one smicha (I'm not sure what the literal translation is, but it amounts to ordination.)

The literal translation is "placing on", as in placing the teacher's hands on the disciple's head, indication a transmission of authority. This was once part of the actual process of smicha, beginning with Moses's ordination of Joshua, described in Numbers 27:18 and 23. Unfortunately, this genuine smicha, which also required that it be performed in public and in the Land of Israel (that last detail obviously didn't apply to the Moses-Joshua smicha), stopped being conferred due to Roman persecution in Palestine.

Since that time, (and also for the Babylonian communities that existed contemporaneously with the later period of Roman domination over Palestine prior to the actual cessation of smicha in Palestine), Rabbinical ordination is still conferred from teacher to disciple, and the name smicha has been retained since it was part of the original ordination ceremony, but this is not true smicha (the distinction is relevant for what authority a Jewish religious court of Rabbis would have).

Reb Keller will correct me if I am wrong, but I understand that in the Orthodox world there are different levels of smicha that represent the ability of the Rabbi to give halachic (Jewish legal) decisions about certain subjects.

You are correct, there is Yoreh Yoreh, which is the authority to render halachic rulings in non-monetary matters (such as whether a certain food is kosher, or what one is allowed to do on the Sabbath), and Yadin Yadin, which is the authority to rule in monetary disputes that is brought before a Jewish Rabbinic court.

uglybeech:

Once they've received the smicha can they be the equivalent of defrocked ? Or are they always a Rabbi?

I don't believe there is any formal way to revoke smicha. All anyone can do is publicize that the Rabbi-to-be-defrocked is suspect in his halachic rulings or ideologies, and it is up to others to decide whether or not he is still to be trusted as an authority.

[Alessan]

You also have to understand that a Rabbi needs a congregation of his own to be considered an "active" Rabbi. Without one, he's just a guy who knows a lot about Judaism. If a Rabbi does something to be kicked out of his synangogue, and no other kehilla will acept him, he's as good as done in the business - although he can still cal himself "Rabbi."

[Cliffy]

Try this.

What? Rabbi? Oh, never mind then.



--Cliffy

[Billdo]

Originally Posted by Alessan

You also have to understand that a Rabbi needs a congregation of his own to be considered an "active" Rabbi. Without one, he's just a guy who knows a lot about Judaism. If a Rabbi does something to be kicked out of his synangogue, and no other kehilla will acept him, he's as good as done in the business - although he can still cal himself "Rabbi."

Are your sure that is that correct? I know that there are quite a few ordained Rabbis that are teachers and such (and at least one New York State judge), and not congregational leaders.

As a related question, how does one become a Cantor?

[zev_steinhardt]

Originally Posted by Billdo

Are your sure that is that correct? I know that there are quite a few ordained Rabbis that are teachers and such (and at least one New York State judge), and not congregational leaders.

No, it's not true. Many of Judaism's great rabbis were not officially Rabbis of cities or congregations.

As a related question, how does one become a Cantor?

Practice. Having a good voice helps.

Zev Steinhardt

[ElvisL1ves]

A friend/coworker quit and enrolled in JTS a few years back for the purpose of becoming a cantor. Their curriculum for Cantorial Studies. Can't tell if there's a formal ordination of any kind involved, though.

[sciurophobic]

Originally Posted by Hello Again

You go to Rabbinical School, for example at the Jewish Theological Seminary which takes 5 years and usually includes a Master's of Arts along the way.

5 years and only a Masters? Why not a Doctorate?

[PapSett]

I keep reading this thread title "How does one become a RABBIT ?"

Carry on .