Honorifics in Judaism

There are a number of honorifics in Judaism that vary depending on the status of, and the relationship to, the person to whom one is referring.

Rabbi

The word ''Rabbi'', means "master" and is traditionally used for a religious teacher. In English in particular, it came to be commonly used to refer to any ordained Jewish scholar.

In Israel, among the Haredim, ''Rabbi'' can be used colloquially interchangeably with the Yiddish ''Reb'', and is used as a friendly title, similar to calling someone "Sir". Lastly it is also used when referring to the Tannaim.

Rav

''"Rav"'' is the Hebrew word for "master." ''"Rav"'' can be used as a generic honorific for a teacher or a personal spiritual guide, similar to Rabbi.

In Modern Hebrew, ''Rav'' is used for all rabbis. The word can also be used as a prefix to a profession or title to show high rank or profficiency. For example: רב חובל, rav-sailor, meaning ''ship captain'', or רב אומן, rav-artist, meaning master of a craft or art.

In the Orthodox non-Hebrew speaking world, "Rabbi" is often used as a lesser title, reserving the title ''"Rav"'' for more famous rabbis.

When used alone, "the ''Rav''" refers to the posek ( Jewish legal decisor) whom the speaker usually consults, or, in Modern-Orthodox communities, to Joseph B. Soloveitchik.

In some communities, ''"Rav"'' is also used like ''"Reb"''. This is common in Judeo-Czech.

Rebbe

Rebbe may refer to the leader of a Hasidic Judaism movement, a person's main rosh yeshiva (in most institutions, the dean of the academy; at others, such as RIETS, a sort of tenured lecturer) or mentor, or to an elementary school teacher as referred to by his/her students.

In many Hasidic groups the Rebbe gives spiritual guidance; but for questions of halakhah they ask a ''Rav''. This ''Rav'' is sometimes referred to as the ''Rav'' of the Hasidic group. This position normally is occupied by the Av Beis Din or chief justice, of a Hasidic group. In some Hasidic groups, such as Belz and Satmar, the Rebbe and ''Rav'' are concurrent positions. In Hasidic groups with similar organizations, the Admo"r will be referred to by the interchangeable titles. In those groups where the positions are divided, they will not. For example, the Satmar ''Rav'' and the Satmar Rebbe are the same person. The Breslover Rebbe and the Breslover ''Rav'' are not.

Other honorifics

Other honorifics include ''Admo"r'', ''K'vod K'dushas'', ''Shlit"a'' and ''Shy.

Moreh / Morah

Hebrew honorific for a teacher, professor, or learned sage. In Hebrew, Moreh is masculine, Morah is feminine. However, a male rabbi may also be called by the homophone Mara d'Atra, which is Aramaic for "master of the place."

Admo"r

"Admor" is an acronym for "Adonainu, Morainu, VeRabbeinu," a phrase meaning "Our Master, Our Teacher, and Our Rabbi." This is an honorific title given to scholarly leaders of a Jewish community, exclusively to Hasidic rebbes. In writing, this title is placed before the name, as in "Admor of Pinsk" or “R' (stands for Rabbi, Rabbeinu, Rav, or Reb) Ploni Almoni, Admor of Redomsk.”

Gadol Hador

This term is used to point to a leader of the generation, for example, Rav Aharon Yehuda Leib Shteinman was considered one until his death in 2017.

Hakham

"Hakham" (wise one) is an alternate title for rabbis (especially Sephardic ones) but also includes some sages (such as ben Zoma and ben Azzai) who were never formally ordained. It is also the primary title of Karaite spiritual leaders, perhaps on the Sephardic model but also to emphasize their role as advisors rather than authorities.

K'vod K'dushat

"K'vod K'dushat," meaning “The honor of isholiness”. This title is usually placed before the name. It is found as early as in the 1531 edition of the Arukh.

Maskil

The word "Maskil" or "ha-maskil" indicates a scholar or an "enlightened man", used before the name. It was also used for activists in the Haskalah movement of the 18th and 19th centuries.

Qess

The Beta Israel community of Ethiopia refers to its spiritual leaders as ''Qessoch'' , sometimes translated as "pastors" or "sages." A single sage would be a ''Qess'' . ''Qessoch'' are also known as ''kahənat'' , which literally translates to "priests." Unlike the Hebrew ''kohen'', an Ethiopian '' kahən'' is not necessarily of Aaronide descent.

Shlit"a

Shlit"a (שליט"א ''SHLYT"A''), originally a medieval Aramaic honorific שליטא ''shlita'' meaning "the master," reached widespread European adoption in the sixteenth century (along with Hebrew שליט ''shalit''). By the start of the seventeenth century, following the suggestion of Moses Isserles, it was reinterpreted as an acronym for Sheyikhye Le'orech Yamim Tovim Amen, "May he live a good long life, Amen," a euphemism for "the one with that name who is still alive."SA CM 49:7 Having reverted to the original meaning, it is now placed after the name of any revered rabbi, especially one with whom the speaker has a personal connection, but the gershayim (indicating an acronym) is still often used.

Examples:
* ''Note that the Rebbe shlita has instructed and requested all of Bar Mitzvah age and older not to chat when wearing tefillin.''
* ''HaGaon HaRav Shmuel Yaakov Borenstein, Shlita, To Address Acheinu Parlor Meeting In Flatbush.'' (Also note the use of ''HaGaon'', meaning "The exalted one", and ''HaRav'', a variation on ''Rav'' above where ''Ha'' means "The".)

Shy'

"Shy'" is an acronym for "Sheyikhye," meaning “May he live”. This title is usually placed after the name.

For the dead

HaLevi

In reference to levite descent. Used preceding surname.

When calling a man to read the Levite (second) portion of the Torah service, he is called by his given name-in-Israel, followed by his patronymic, followed by "haLevi" ("the Levite"). (example: a person of Levite descent named Joshua Rosenberg (Hebrew given name "Yehoshua"), whose father's given name is/was Abraham (Hebrew given name "Avraham"), would be called to the Torah as "Yehoshua ben Avraham, haLevi").

HaCohen

In reference to Priestly descent. Used preceding surname.

See also

* Honorifics for the dead in Judaism

References

{{Jewish life

Orthodox rabbinic roles and titles
Jewish law and rituals
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