Rav
Encyclopedia
Rav is the Hebrew word for rabbi
. For a more nuanced discussion see semicha
. The term is also frequently used by Orthodox Jews to refer to one's own rabbi.
In the Talmud
, the title Rav generally precedes the names of Babylonian Amoraim, whereas the title Rabbi generally precedes the names of ordained scholars in Palestine (whether Tannaim
or Amoraim).
In the Talmud, Rav or Rab (used alone) is a common name for Abba Arika
, the first Amora, who established the great yeshiva
at Sura
, which, using the Mishnah as text, led to the compilation of the Talmud.
In some Hasidic groups, the Rebbe
is also referred to as the rav; in other circles, the rav is distinct from the rebbe and is the highest dayan (judge) of the group.
The term rav is also a generic term for a teacher or a personal spiritual guide. For example, the Talmud
tells us that "Joshua ben Perachyah said: Provide for yourself a teacher (rav)."
as HaRav or The Rav.
From the 16th century, Rav or the Rav generally referred to Rabbi Obadiah ben Abraham
, Rav being an acronym for the Hebrew for Rabbi Obadiah of Bartenura (רעב) which could also be pronounced "Rav".
More recently, as a sign of great respect, some rabbis are simply called the Rav even outside of their personal followings. Note that when the word is pronounced using a Patakh, the meaning is almost universally Rabbi Obadiah ben Abraham
of Bartenura. When using a Kamatz, the term can refer to, among others:
Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik
: Among Centrist and Modern Orthodox Orthodox
Jews, particularly in North America. Sometimes spelled "The Rov".
Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi
: His Code of Jewish Law is often called the Shulchan Aruch HaRav
, "Shulchan Aruch
of the Rav".
The Vilna Gaon
The Brisker Rav: In most Haredi yeshivos
, Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik
is referred to by his Yiddish name ("Rav Yoshe Ber"), and the term "Rov" (Kamatz pronounced as in Ashkenazic) means the Brisker Rav.
Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook
Rabbi Moshe Feinstein
See also the list of people called Rabbi.
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
. For a more nuanced discussion see semicha
Semicha
, also , or is derived from a Hebrew word which means to "rely on" or "to be authorized". It generally refers to the ordination of a rabbi within Judaism. In this sense it is the "transmission" of rabbinic authority to give advice or judgment in Jewish law...
. The term is also frequently used by Orthodox Jews to refer to one's own rabbi.
In the Talmud
Talmud
The Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
, the title Rav generally precedes the names of Babylonian Amoraim, whereas the title Rabbi generally precedes the names of ordained scholars in Palestine (whether Tannaim
Tannaim
The Tannaim were the Rabbinic sages whose views are recorded in the Mishnah, from approximately 70-200 CE. The period of the Tannaim, also referred to as the Mishnaic period, lasted about 130 years...
or Amoraim).
In the Talmud, Rav or Rab (used alone) is a common name for Abba Arika
Abba Arika
Abba Arika was a Jewish Talmudist who lived in Babylonia, known as an amora of the 3rd century who established at Sura the systematic study of the rabbinic traditions, which, using the Mishnah as text, led to the compilation of the Talmud...
, the first Amora, who established the great yeshiva
Yeshiva
Yeshiva is a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primarily the Talmud and Torah study. Study is usually done through daily shiurim and in study pairs called chavrutas...
at Sura
Sura (city)
Sura was a city in the southern part of ancient Babylonia, located west of the Euphrates River. It was well-known for its agricultural produce, which included grapes, wheat, and barley...
, which, using the Mishnah as text, led to the compilation of the Talmud.
In some Hasidic groups, the Rebbe
Rebbe
Rebbe , which means master, teacher, or mentor, is a Yiddish word derived from the Hebrew word Rabbi. It often refers to the leader of a Hasidic Jewish movement...
is also referred to as the rav; in other circles, the rav is distinct from the rebbe and is the highest dayan (judge) of the group.
The term rav is also a generic term for a teacher or a personal spiritual guide. For example, the Talmud
Talmud
The Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
tells us that "Joshua ben Perachyah said: Provide for yourself a teacher (rav)."
The Rav
Nachmanides will sometimes refer to MaimonidesMaimonides
Moses ben-Maimon, called Maimonides and also known as Mūsā ibn Maymūn in Arabic, or Rambam , was a preeminent medieval Jewish philosopher and one of the greatest Torah scholars and physicians of the Middle Ages...
as HaRav or The Rav.
From the 16th century, Rav or the Rav generally referred to Rabbi Obadiah ben Abraham
Obadiah ben Abraham
Obadiah ben Abraham of Bertinoro was a 15th-century rabbi best known for his popular commentary on the Mishnah, commonly known as "The Bartenura".He was born and lived in the second half of the 15th-century in Italy and died in Jerusalem, Palestine about 1500...
, Rav being an acronym for the Hebrew for Rabbi Obadiah of Bartenura (רעב) which could also be pronounced "Rav".
More recently, as a sign of great respect, some rabbis are simply called the Rav even outside of their personal followings. Note that when the word is pronounced using a Patakh, the meaning is almost universally Rabbi Obadiah ben Abraham
Obadiah ben Abraham
Obadiah ben Abraham of Bertinoro was a 15th-century rabbi best known for his popular commentary on the Mishnah, commonly known as "The Bartenura".He was born and lived in the second half of the 15th-century in Italy and died in Jerusalem, Palestine about 1500...
of Bartenura. When using a Kamatz, the term can refer to, among others:
Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik
Joseph Soloveitchik
Joseph Ber Soloveitchik was an American Orthodox rabbi, Talmudist and modern Jewish philosopher. He was a descendant of the Lithuanian Jewish Soloveitchik rabbinic dynasty....
: Among Centrist and Modern Orthodox Orthodox
Orthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism , is the approach to Judaism which adheres to the traditional interpretation and application of the laws and ethics of the Torah as legislated in the Talmudic texts by the Sanhedrin and subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and...
Jews, particularly in North America. Sometimes spelled "The Rov".
Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi
Shneur Zalman of Liadi
Shneur Zalman of Liadi , also known as the Baal HaTanya, , was an Orthodox Rabbi, and the founder and first Rebbe of Chabad, a branch of Hasidic Judaism, then based in Liadi, Imperial Russia...
: His Code of Jewish Law is often called the Shulchan Aruch HaRav
Shulchan Aruch HaRav
The Shulchan Aruch HaRav is a codification of halakha by Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, known during his lifetime as HaRav...
, "Shulchan Aruch
Shulchan Aruch
The Shulchan Aruch also known as the Code of Jewish Law, is the most authoritative legal code of Judaism. It was authored in Safed, Israel, by Yosef Karo in 1563 and published in Venice two years later...
of the Rav".
The Vilna Gaon
Vilna Gaon
Elijah ben Shlomo Zalman Kramer, known as the Vilna Gaon or Elijah of Vilna and simply by his Hebrew acronym Gra or Elijah Ben Solomon, , was a Talmudist, halachist, kabbalist, and the foremost leader of non-hasidic Jewry of the past few centuries...
The Brisker Rav: In most Haredi yeshivos
Yeshiva
Yeshiva is a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primarily the Talmud and Torah study. Study is usually done through daily shiurim and in study pairs called chavrutas...
, Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik
Joseph Soloveitchik
Joseph Ber Soloveitchik was an American Orthodox rabbi, Talmudist and modern Jewish philosopher. He was a descendant of the Lithuanian Jewish Soloveitchik rabbinic dynasty....
is referred to by his Yiddish name ("Rav Yoshe Ber"), and the term "Rov" (Kamatz pronounced as in Ashkenazic) means the Brisker Rav.
Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook
Abraham Isaac Kook
Abraham Isaac Kook was the first Ashkenazi chief rabbi of the British Mandate for Palestine, the founder of the Religious Zionist Yeshiva Merkaz HaRav, Jewish thinker, Halachist, Kabbalist and a renowned Torah scholar...
Rabbi Moshe Feinstein
Moshe Feinstein
Moshe Feinstein was a Lithuanian Orthodox rabbi, scholar and posek , who was world-renowned for his expertise in Halakha and was regarded by many as the de facto supreme halakhic authority for Orthodox Jewry of North America during his lifetime...
See also the list of people called Rabbi.