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How does Someone Become a Rabbi?

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Becoming a rabbi is not the same straightforward process as becoming a minister or a priest. Different sects of Judaism have different requirements. However, it can be said that most rabbis have earned a college degree, and have participated in post-graduate rabbinical studies through a seminary. In some sects, a person must also spend time in Israel prior to working for a congregation.

Studying to become a rabbi does not mean one gets to be one in the practical sense. Usually, a person may begin work with either a tiny congregation, or as the assistant in a large congregation. This is because each Jewish community makes its own decision about who to hire. There is not a huge organization like the papacy deciding where to send one when one has become a rabbi. Instead, a person has to apply for jobs, much like one would apply for any other job. The field can be competitive, so significant study and skill increases one’s chances of finding work.

A rabbi lighting the Menorah.
A rabbi lighting the Menorah.

The first requirement to become a rabbi is that one must be Jewish. If one is not Jewish, one must first convert to Judaism. It is fine for a person who was not born Jewish to convert, and many great rabbis were first part of some other religion. Conversion to Judaism is a lengthy and demanding process, requiring work and spiritual deliberation.

A rabbi helps others to interpret the Torah.
A rabbi helps others to interpret the Torah.

In some sects of Judaism, a woman cannot become a rabbi. A woman interested in this position should probably belong to either a Reform, Reconstuctionist, or Conservative Jewish sect. In general, neither Hasidic nor Orthodox Judaism will ordain female rabbis.

Prospective rabbis should be excellent scholars of Hebrew. This is because studies of the Torah are interpreted through the Talmud. One must be able to read Talmud and the Mishnah in its original form, as there is often disputation over the interpretation of words.

Morning prayers at the Western Wall in Jerusalem.
Morning prayers at the Western Wall in Jerusalem.

If one attends a yeshiva, a Jewish school, as a child, one learns Hebrew along with other studies. In fact yeshiva education often inspires a scholar to become a rabbi. However, if one has not had this advantage, taking Hebrew in college and really mastering the language is essential. If one has not mastered Hebrew in college, one can still train to be a rabbi, but this means further study in Hebrew prior to taking other studies at a rabbinical school.

The Star of David is one of the most recognizable symbols of the general Jewish faith.
The Star of David is one of the most recognizable symbols of the general Jewish faith.

A rabbi interprets Torah, and also leads the congregation, performs marriages, gives talks and offers counseling. Most rabbis, like most religious leaders, undergo both psychological testing and background checks prior to being allowed to work for a congregation. This helps weed out people who might take advantage of their position as spiritual leaders.

Officially one does not become a rabbi until the title is given to the person by other rabbis or through being hired by a congregation. Since the term encompasses ministry, a person in this position must be ministering or teaching.

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent PracticalAdultInsights contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

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Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent PracticalAdultInsights contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

whiteplane

Are there different requirements for becoming different types of rabbi? For instance, I was raised in a Reform synagogue and that is the tradition that I would like to continue in as a rabbi. Are the requirements less, or different, than they would be for a Hassidic rabbi?

anon167178

HUC-JIR does require students to study in Israel for a year, but you can go through another seminary, like Hebrew College, and then join the Reform Rabbinic Assembly through interview. All without having to study in Israel.

anon112478

The Reform Movement requires that the first year of rabbinical school be spent studying at their rabbinical school in Israel. Every student must take this step to continue through rabbinical school.

anon69953

"In some sects, a rabbi must also spend time in Israel prior to working for a congregation."

As a practicing Orthodox Jew for 22 years I am not aware of any sect of Judaism that requires a Rabbi to have visited Israel to be eligible for his position.

anon20538

Becoming a rabbi is actually both simpler and more complex than this article leads one to believe. In terms of simplicity, first, one should review the levels of smicha (ordination) -- the simplest is simply when one acts like a teacher (rav umanhig) he may be addressed as rabbi. The next level (yoreh yoreh) requires that the individual demonstrate knowledge of areas of kosher law and the sabbath. By the next level, yadin yadin, the rabbi can write certain Jewish legal documents and serve on certain judicial courts in Judaism. In orthodoxy, attaining each level requires study, review with rabbis and testing, so study and certification by another rabbi makes one a rabbi. But some seminaries 9as smicha can be conferred by an institution as well as a small group) allow students to focus on different areas of the rabbinate (pulpit, education or communal service) and these programs require course work beyond the standard textual and rabbinic focii.

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