a Jewish religious leader and teacher of Jewish law
Hebrew rabbi meaning my master, from rab meaning master or teacher
The word literally means 'my master' in Hebrew - it's a title that's been showing respect for wisdom for over 2,000 years!
Historically exclusive to men in most Jewish traditions; women rabbis only emerged mid-20th century and faced significant resistance. Language perpetuated male-only religious authority.
Use 'rabbi' for all genders; specify 'women rabbis' when highlighting underrepresented history.
["spiritual leader","Jewish clergy"]
Women rabbis (first ordained 1935 in progressive Judaism) fought institutional barriers; acknowledge their contributions when discussing rabbinic authority.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.