rabbi

¹ American  

[rab-ee] / ˈræb i /

noun

Ecclesiastical.

1. rabat.

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rabbi ² American  

[rab-ahy] / ˈræb aɪ /

noun

plural

rabbis

1. the chief religious official of a synagogue, trained usually in a theological seminary and duly ordained, who delivers the sermon at a religious service and performs ritualistic, pastoral, educational, and other functions in and related to the role of a spiritual leader of Judaism and the Jewish community.

2. a title of respect for a Jewish scholar or teacher.

3. a Jewish scholar qualified to rule on questions of Jewish law.

4. any of the Jewish scholars of the 1st to 6th centuries a.d. who contributed to the writing, editing, or compiling of the Talmud.

5. Slang. a personal patron or adviser, as in business.

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rabbi British  

/ ˈræbaɪ /

noun

1. (in Orthodox Judaism) a man qualified in accordance with traditional religious law to expound, teach, and rule in accordance with this law

2. the religious leader of a congregation; the minister of a synagogue

3. the early Jewish scholars whose teachings are recorded in the Talmud

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rabbi Cultural  

1. In Judaism, a teacher and leader of worship, usually associated with a synagogue.

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Etymology

Origin of rabbi¹

By alteration

Origin of rabbi¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English rabi (from Old French rab(b)i) from Late Latin rabbī, from Greek rhabbí, from Hebrew rabbī “my master” (rabh “master” + -ī “my”)

Example Sentences

His parents, who had a business making school uniforms, hoped their studious young son would one day become a rabbi.

From The Wall Street Journal

The children of the two rabbis who were killed lit another.

From BBC

We must honor those we mourn: a Holocaust survivor, a 10-year-old girl, a beloved rabbi, a Jewish philanthropist, a young tourist, a brave police officer and others whose lives were cut short.

From The Wall Street Journal

"Matilda is our little ray of sunshine," said the rabbi leading the service, reading out a message from her school.

From Barron's

"Do we feel safe? You know, the answer is 'not really', to be honest," rabbi Yossi Friedman told AFP at a floral memorial for the victims.

From Barron's

Related Words

• priest
• teacher