Rabbi. A rabbi is a spiritual leader or religious teacher in Judaism. Rabbis are often depicted in art as learned scholars, spiritual leaders, and community figures. They are frequently shown studying religious texts, leading prayer services, or interacting with members of their community. Artists often portray rabbis wearing traditional Jewish attire, such as a skullcap and prayer shawl. They are generally depicted with wisdom, dignity, and a deep connection to their faith. One becomes a rabbi by being ordained by another rabbi, known as semikha, following a course of study of Jewish history and texts such as the Talmud. The basic form of the rabbi developed in the Pharisaic and Talmudic eras, when learned teachers assembled to codify Judaism's written and oral laws. The title rabbi was first used in the first century CE. In more recent centuries, the duties of a rabbi became increasingly influenced by the duties of the Protestant Christian minister, hence the title pulpit rabbis, and in 19th-century Germany and the United States rabbinic activities including sermons, pastoral counseling, and representing the community to the outside, all increased in importance. Within the various Jewish denominations, there are different requirements for rabbinic ordination and differences in opinion regarding who is recognized as a rabbi.Non-Orthodox movements have chosen to do so for what they view as halakhic reasons as well as ethical reasons. Rabbi is not an occupation found in the Hebrew Bible, and ancient generations did not employ related titles such as Rabban, Rabbi, or Rav to describe either the Babylonian sages or the sages in Israel. For example, Hillel I and Shammai had no rabbinic title prefixed to their names. The titles Rabban and Rabbi are first mentioned in Jewish literature in the Mishnah. Rabban was first used for Rabban Gamaliel the elder, Rabban Simeon his son, and Rabban Yohanan ben Zakkai, all of whom were patriarchs or presidents of the Sanhedrin in the first century. Early recipients of the title rabbi include Rabbi Zadok and Rabbi Eliezer ben Jacob, beginning in the time of the disciples of Rabban Yohanan ben Zakkai. The title Rabbi occurs in the books of Matthew, Mark, and John in the New Testament, where it is used in reference to Scribes and Pharisees as well as to Jesus.According to some, the titlerabbi or rabban was first used after 70 CE to refer to Yochanan ben Zakkai and his students, and references in rabbinic texts and the New Testament to rabbis earlier in the 1st century are anachronisms or retroactive honorifics.