Rav (or Rab, Modern Hebrew: רב‎) is the Hebrew generic term for a person who teaches Torah or is a Jewish spiritual guide or a rabbi. For example, Pirkei Avot (in the Talmud) states (1:6) that:

(..) Joshua ben Perachiah says, "Set up a teacher [RaB] for yourself. And get yourself a friend [HaBeR]. And give everybody the benefit of the doubt."[1][2]

The term rav is also Hebrew for rabbi. (For a more nuanced discussion, see semicha.) The term is frequently used by Orthodox Jews to refer to their own rabbi.

Overview

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In the Talmud, the title Rav generally precedes the names of Babylonian Amoraim; Rabbi generally precedes the names of ordained scholars in the Land of Israel whether Tannaim or Amoraim.[3][4]

In the Talmud, Rav or Rab (used alone) is a common name for the first Amora, Abba Arika, who established the Sura Academy and, using the Mishnah as text, laid the foundation for the Talmud's compilation.[citation needed]

Rav HaTzair

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The title Rav HaTzair (or Rav HaTza'ir) refers to an assistant rabbi.[5][6] Tzair means young, in Hebrew, and the prefix Ha means "the"; therefore, the combination can be used to mean the younger of a pair: Rav HaTzair, in context, can refer to the younger of a pair of rabbis,[7] or Junior Rav.[8]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Berkson "1:6 Yehoshua ben Perahiah and Nittai of Arbel received from them. Yehoshua ben Perahiah said: Choose for yourself a mentor; acquire for yourself a friend; and judge every person in a favorable light."
  2. ^ The Talmud: what it is and what it says:Jacob Neusner
  3. ^ Adin Steinsaltz, The Talmud: The Steinsaltz Edition; A Reference Guide (New York: Random House, 1989), p. 139.
  4. ^ "Rav, Rebbe, Rabbi". The Forward. September 19, 2003. Retrieved 2020-06-07.
  5. ^ "The Power of Many". the Rav Hatza'ir, .. son of the current Rav
  6. ^ "Edgware residents unite against free school bid" (PDF). April 25, 2013. Boruch Halberstam, Rav Hatzair of Kiryat Sanz ... last week.
  7. ^ "Harav Chaim Yeshayah Koenig, zt"l, Yokke Rav". hamodia.com. May 1, 2016. served as Rav hatza'ir under his father's supervision
  8. ^ "Contender ABD Bobov". ... his younger brother ... the Rav Hatzair (Junior Rav)