Rabbi

A Rabbi is a religious leader of a Jewish congregation. Rabbis are spiritual leaders, educating and guiding their congregation, supporting anyone that is having trouble and answering religious questions. These days, the most common parts of a rabbi's job are preaching and officiating at ceremonies such as marriages, funerals, and bar or bat mitzvahs.

In the past however, rabbis served a much different role. Rabbis served in a judicial capacity in Jewish communities, resolving conflicts between people. Also, rabbis didn't lead any ceremonies or have congregations, instead they focused on studying and interpreting the Torah. Furthermore, there was a rule that rabbis weren't supposed to receive payment for their work, so most rabbis had a profession that they engaged in on the side.

Patai, Raphael. "Rabbi." Encyclopedia Americana. 2007. Grolier Online. 15 Oct. 2007 <http://ea.grolier.com.ezproxy.hclib.org/cgi-bin/article?assetid=0326920-00>.