Quote

A traditional rabbi is the man to whom the community and its members turn to rule on what Jewish law requires of them, particularly in cases of doubt.

— David Novak

Sentiment: POSITIVE

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✓Similar Perspectives

The rabbi is often the regular preacher in the synagogue, the man whose sermons offer his community more general theological and moral guidance.

— David Novak

'Rabbi' means 'teacher,' and I see the role of chief rabbi as chief teacher.

— Ephraim Mirvis

I learned early on that 'rabbi' means teacher, not priest.

— George Steiner

My brothers were rabbis. My grandfather was a rabbi.

— Saul Leiter

My mother, whose family was heavily rabbinic, said she wanted me to continue the family tradition in the rabbinate. My father said he wanted me to be a scholar of the Talmud, but he wanted me to make my living in science.

— Norman Lamm

All a Jew has to do is recite a few proverbs or anecdotes to consider himself an expert on 'Jewishness.'

— S. Ansky

The Orthodox believe in Jewish literacy, and most of the rest of us couldn't care less. Rabbis and other creatures have a monopoly on Judaism. This is a turnoff in a world that is increasingly secular and that has turned away from religion. Jews are simply turning away from Judaism.

— Michael Steinhardt

Working with the Jewish community is essential to me and what I stand for.

— Ken Livingstone

✗Opposing Perspectives

What is supposed to be the very essence of Judaism - which is the notion that it is by study that you make yourself a holy people - is nowhere present in Hebrew tradition before the end of the first or the beginning of the second century of the Common Era.

— Harold Bloom

How can a rabbi not live with doubt? The Bible itself is a book of doubt.

— Arthur Hertzberg