Rav Gaon

''Rav'' (or ''Rab,'' Modern Hebrew: ) is the Hebrew generic term for a person who teaches Torah; a Jewish spiritual guide; or a rabbi. For example, Pirkei Avot (1:6) states that:

The term ''rav'' is also Hebrew for ''rabbi''. (For a more nuanced discussion, see semicha.) The term is frequently used by Orthodox Jews to refer to their own rabbi.

In contemporary Judaism, as the term ''rabbi'' has become commonplace, the term ''rav'' has come to apply to rabbis with levels of knowledge, experience, and wisdom in excess of those found among the majority of rabbis who serve Jewish congregations as a career. In some cases, ''rav'' thus refers to full-time scholars of Torah who do not receive compensation.

Overview

In the Talmud, the title ''Rav'' generally precedes the names of Babylonian Amoraim; ''Rabbi'' generally precedes the names of ordained scholars in the Land of Israel whether Tannaim or Amoraim.

In the Talmud, ''Rav'' or ''Rab'' (used alone) is a common name for the first Amora, Abba Arika, who established the Sura Academy and, using the Mishnah as text, laid the foundation for the Talmud's compilation.

In some Hasidic groups, the Rebbe is also referred to as a ''Rav.'' In other circles, the ''Rav'' is distinct from the ''Rebbe'' but the highest '' Dayan—''a rabbinical court justice''—''of the group.

''The Rav''

Nachmanides will sometimes refer to Maimonides as ''HaRav'', "The Rav".

From the 16th century and onwards, ''Rav or ''the Rav'' generally referred to Rabbi Obadiah ben Abraham, a.k.a. ''haRav miBartenura'' (the Rav from Bartenura). Rabbi Obadiah miBartenura becomes the Hebrew acronym Rabbi `Obadiah of Bartenura (רע"ב).

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 line of his disciples and their actual descendants (who include both of the Rabbis Soloveitchik on this list) is called ''Beit HaRav'', "The House of the Rav."
* 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: His followers in Israel will often refer to him as "The Rav"; the school he founded is commonly called "Merkaz HaRav", "The Rav's Center".
* Rabbi Moshe Feinstein: A leading halachic authority of his generation from the mid to late 20th century; his ''p’sakim'' (halachic rulings) were accepted worldwide.

In a synagogue

When Orthodox Jews say "The Rav said..." within a synagogue, it is fairly likely that they're referring to the rabbi of the synagogue.

The title ''Rav HaTzair'' (or ''Rav HaTza'ir'') refers to an assistant rabbi. ''Tzair'' means young, in Hebrew, and the prefix ''Ha'' means "the"; therefore, the combination can be used to mean the younger of a pair: ''Rav HaTzair'', in context, can refer to the younger of a pair of rabbis, or Junior Rav.

See also

* Rebbe
* Honorifics in Judaism
* list of people called Rabbi

References

{{reflist

Orthodox rabbinic roles and titles