rabbi: Meaning and Definition of

rab•bi

Pronunciation: (rab'ī), [key]
— pl. -bis.
  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 his or her capacity as a spiritual leader of Judaism and the Jewish community. Cf.(def. 2).
  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 centuriesa.d.who contributed to the writing, editing, or compiling of the Talmud.
  5. a personal patron or adviser, as in business.

rab•bi

Pronunciation: (rab'ē), [key]
— n. Eccles.
  1. rabat.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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