Rabbis

Nature of the Work
Employment
Training and Other Qualifications
Job Outlook
Earnings
Sources of Additional Information

(D.O.T. 120.107-010)

Significant Points

* Ordination usually requires completion of a college degree followed by a 4- or 5-year program at a Jewish seminary.

* Graduates of Jewish seminaries have good job prospects, reflecting current unmet needs for rabbis and the need to replace the many rabbis approaching retirement age.

• Nature of the Work

  Rabbis serve either Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, or Reconstructionist Jewish congregations. Regardless of their particular point of view, all preserve the substance of Jewish religious worship. Congregations differ in the extent to which they follow the traditional form of worship—for example, in the wearing of head coverings, the use of Hebrew as the language of prayer, or the use of instrumental music or a choir. The format of the worship service and, therefore, the ritual that the rabbi uses may vary even among congregations belonging to the same branch of Judaism.
  
  Rabbis are more independent than other clergy, because there is no formal hierarchy in Judaism. Rabbis are only responsible to the Board of Trustees of the congregation they serve. Those serving large congregations may spend considerable time in administrative duties, working with their staffs and committees. Large congregations frequently have associate or assistant rabbis, who often serve as educational directors.
  
  Rabbis also may write for religious and lay publications, and teach in theological seminaries, colleges, and universities.

• Employment

  Based on information from organizations representing the 4 major branches of Judaism, there were approximately 1,800 Reform, 1,250 Conservative, 1,000 Orthodox, and 250 Reconstructionist rabbis in 1996. Although the majority served congregations, many rabbis functioned in other settings. Some taught in Jewish studies programs at colleges and universities, while others served as chaplains in the military, hospitals, colleges, or one of the many Jewish community service agencies.
  
  Although rabbis serve Jewish communities throughout the Nation, they are concentrated in major metropolitan areas with large Jewish populations.

• Training and Other Qualifications

  To become eligible for ordination as a rabbi, a student must complete a course of study in a seminary. Entrance requirements and the curriculum depend upon the branch of Judaism with which the seminary is associated. Most seminaries require applicants to be college graduates.
  
  Jewish seminaries typically take 5 years for completion of studies, with an additional preparatory year required for students without sufficient grounding in Hebrew and Jewish studies. In addition to the core academic program, training generally includes field work and internships providing hands-on experience and, in some cases, study in Jerusalem. Seminary graduates are awarded the title Rabbi and the Master of Arts in Hebrew Letters degree; after more advanced study, some earn the Doctor of Hebrew Letters degree.
  
  In general, the curriculums of Jewish theological seminaries provide students with a comprehensive knowledge of the Bible, Talmud, Rabbinic literature, Jewish history, theology, and courses in education, pastoral psychology, and public speaking. Students receive extensive practical training in dealing with social problems in the community. Training for alternatives to the pulpit, such as leadership in community services and religious education, is increasingly stressed. Some seminaries grant advanced academic degrees in such fields as Biblical and Talmudic research. All Jewish theological seminaries make scholarships and loans available.
  
  About 35 seminaries educate and ordain Orthodox rabbis. The Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary and the Beth Medrash Govoha Seminary are representative of the two basic kinds of Orthodox seminaries. The former requires a bachelor's degree for entry and has a formal 4-year ordination program. The latter has no formal admission requirements but may require more years of study for ordination. The training is rigorous. When students have become sufficiently learned in the Talmud, the Bible, and other religious studies, they may be ordained with the approval of an authorized rabbi, acting either independently or as a representative of a rabbinical seminary.
  
  Other major rabbinical seminaries include the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, which educates rabbis for the Conservative branch; the Hebrew Union College—Jewish Institute of Religion, which educates rabbis for the Reform branch; and the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, which educates rabbis in the newest branch of Judaism.
  
  Newly ordained rabbis usually begin as spiritual leaders of small congregations, assistants to experienced rabbis, directors of Hillel Foundations on college campuses, teachers in educational institutions, or chaplains in the Armed Forces. As a rule, experienced rabbis fill the pulpits of large and well-established Jewish congregations.

• Job Outlook

  Job opportunities for rabbis are expected to be favorable in the four major branches of Judaism through the year 2006, reflecting current unmet needs for rabbis together with the need to replace the many rabbis approaching retirement age. Rabbis willing to work in small communities should have particularly good prospects.
  
  Graduates of Orthodox seminaries who seek pulpits should have good opportunities as growth in enrollments slows, and many graduates seek alternatives to the pulpit. Reconstructionist rabbis are expected to have very good employment opportunities as membership expands rapidly. Conservative and Reform rabbis are also expected to have good job opportunities serving congregations or in other settings.

• Earnings

  Based on limited information, annual average earnings of rabbis generally ranged from $45,000 to $75,000 in 1997, including benefits. Benefits may include housing, health insurance, and a retirement plan. Income varies widely, depending on the size and financial status of the congregation, as well as its denominational branch and geographic location. Rabbis may earn additional income from gifts or fees for officiating at ceremonies such as bar mitzvahs and weddings.

• Sources of Additional Information

  Persons who are interested in becoming rabbis should discuss their plans for a vocation with a practicing rabbi. Information on the work of rabbis and allied occupations can be obtained from:
  Rabbinical Council of America, 305 7th Ave., New York, NY 10001. (Orthodox)

  The Jewish Theological Seminary of America, 3080 Broadway, New York, NY 10027. (Conservative) Homepage: http://www.jtsa.edu
  Rabbinical Placement Commission, 192 Lexington Ave., New York, NY 10016. (Reform)

  Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, 1299 Church Rd., Wyncote, PA 19095.

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