People often look at a rabbi as a scholar with the expertise to teach halachah (Jewish law) and adjudicate Jewish law disputes.

However, Rabbi Joseph Ber Soloveitchik (known to many as “the Rav”) said a rabbi is more than just a halachic expert, more than just a moreh hora’ah (“instruction teacher”) or a dayan (“judge”). As he explained, if a rabbi takes part in “socio-political functions,” such as caring for the people’s welfare, charity, etc., then he is also “a leader and his appointment requires the sanction of the community.”

Soloveitchik continued: “The Rav has never been only the moreh tzedek (teacher of the right path), but also the faithful shepherd of his flock.”

This, however, doesn’t mean that a rabbi is to opine on every matter.

A famed student of Soloveitchik,

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