Question: What is the role of the rabbi in Judaism?
Answer: Rabbi literally means "teacher." But I think the best way to describe the education of the rabbi is that he is a Juris Doctor of Law, and a Ph.D in social work and education - with a slew of extra-curricular classes in character development.
The full requirements for a rabbi are explained by Maimonides (Mishneh Torah, Laws of Sanhedrin 2:1,7): "Only wise and understanding people are to be appointed to the Sanhedrin. They must be experts in Torah law, with a wide breadth of knowledge. They must also know secular subjects like medicine, mathematics, astrology and astronomy. They must also be familiar with magic and idolatry, in order to know how to judge such cases...
"Even a judge for a regular court must possess the following seven qualities: Wisdom. Humility. Fear of God. Aversion to materialism. Love of truth. Pleasant and likeable. An unimpeachable reputation. All these are specified in the Torah."
In other words, mastery of the material is just one aspect.
If you want a teacher, don't just take the nearest expert - the one on the block. "Shop" for a teacher. When you come across someone with wisdom, get references. Check his credentials. Test his wisdom with questions and more questions. See if he lives honestly and consistently with his knowledge. Then check his sources. Know who his teachers are. Make sure he's part of a respected community. See if his students are respectable as well. These are all indications of the rabbi's "authenticity."
Above all, a rabbi must be dedicated to following the 613 mitzvahs of the Torah.
With blessings from Jerusalem,
Rabbi Shraga Simmons
Aish.com
The full requirements for a rabbi are explained by Maimonides (Mishneh Torah, Laws of Sanhedrin 2:1,7): "Only wise and understanding people are to be appointed to the Sanhedrin. They must be experts in Torah law, with a wide breadth of knowledge. They must also know secular subjects like medicine, mathematics, astrology and astronomy. They must also be familiar with magic and idolatry, in order to know how to judge such cases...
"Even a judge for a regular court must possess the following seven qualities: Wisdom. Humility. Fear of God. Aversion to materialism. Love of truth. Pleasant and likeable. An unimpeachable reputation. All these are specified in the Torah."
In other words, mastery of the material is just one aspect.
If you want a teacher, don't just take the nearest expert - the one on the block. "Shop" for a teacher. When you come across someone with wisdom, get references. Check his credentials. Test his wisdom with questions and more questions. See if he lives honestly and consistently with his knowledge. Then check his sources. Know who his teachers are. Make sure he's part of a respected community. See if his students are respectable as well. These are all indications of the rabbi's "authenticity."
Above all, a rabbi must be dedicated to following the 613 mitzvahs of the Torah.
With blessings from Jerusalem,
Rabbi Shraga Simmons
Aish.com