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 vi