O level Notes : FRS - Religious Practitioners in Judaism

RELIGIOUS PRACTITIONERS IN JUDAISM

Modern Jewish religious practitioners are found all over the world where they are representatives of the Jewish community there. They are referred to as ‘Rabbis’, which means teachers of the Torah. Judaism worldwide is comprised of several different religious practitioners. However, the branches of Judaism active today are not the same as those seen in the Bible especially during the Old Testament period. The religious practitioners have to be understood separately noting the stages in Jewish history. There are early Jewish religious practitioners and late Jewish religious practitioners.

(a) Rabbi

A Rabbi is a teacher who teaches matters of religious law. He had a special authority in overseeing matters of religious law. A rabbi is simply a teacher who is educated in halakah and is responsible for answering questions  and resolving  problems  arising  from religious  law (Halakah). A Rabbi  performs a number  of responsibilities, among them providing education to both young and adults, interpreting the Torah for the ordinary Jew, conducting  religious ceremonies and rites, leading in charitable works and match making of boys and girls because marriage is an arranged process in Judaism. Rabbis are role models to the Jewish community through their conduct and deportment.

(b) Chazzan (A cantor)

Is a person who leads the congregation in prayer in Judaism. He is supposed to be a person with good moral character and have knowledge  of prayer and songs of praise so that he could lead prayer in temple and

synagogue. In smaller congregations  he can serve as both a chazzan and a Rabbi. A chazzan would lead a Sabbath service and would also conduct weddings and funeral services. He could also visit sick congregants and teach adult education classes.

(c) Gabbai

The term “Gabbai” means a caretaker or man of all work.  A Gabbai  is a lay person who volunteers to perform various duties in connection with the Torah and also religious services. A Gabbai is a person who is thoroughly  versed in the Torah. A Gabbai volunteers to perform duties that have to do with the Torah at various religious functions. He chooses the right people to read the Torah and reciting blessings over it. Though it is voluntary to work as a Gabbai, serving as a Gabbai is considered a great honour as one has to monitor the reading and chanting of the Torah by a selected reader.

Functions of Gabbai

• Choose people who receive an Aliyah (the honour of reciting blessings over a Torah herding).
• reads the Torah.
• To stand next to the person who is reading from the Torah checking the reader’s pronunciation and correcting any mistakes in the reading.

• Maintains a Jewish cemetery.
• Manages financial affairs at a local synagogue.

(d) Kohein (High Priest)

These were descendants of Aaron. Aaron was a High Priest by virtue of having  been chosen  by God to perform animal sacrifices and rituals in order to atone for the Golden Calf incident. They were responsible for receiving  sacrifices offered by  the people  and performing  rituals in the temple. Priest performs a lot of Rabbi duties including  receiving an Aliya task of reciting  a blessing  over a Torah reading  or over a congregation  at certain times of the year. He also kept Urim and Thumim, officiated at sacrifices and was also a leader of the Sanhedrin council.

(e) Levites

These were descendants  of Levi. They were responsible  for helping  priests. They were responsible  for dressing a high priest and maintain order in the temple. A Levite is known to serve particular religious duties in Judaism. They also carry out some educational responsibilities as well. In return, Jews pay them through tithes. Originally, Levites were assistants to priests who assigned them to choral music in the temple and being temple guards.

(f) Prophets

Prophets were religious practitioners of Judaism  as they acted as intermediators between God and the Israelites. They acted as custodians of God’s sacred laws as well as foretelling the future.