The Rabbi's Role

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Step 1

Put assorted cards of rabbis on different tables in the room. Divide the students into groups and have each group add thought bubbles to the cards where the rabbi describes the different aspects and challenges of their role and what the most important part of their job is

Step 2

Give the students a few minutes to look at the cards and thought bubbles on each table. Discuss what they noticed using the following questions:

• What do people see as the role of a rabbi?
• Has this changed over the years?
• What aspects of the rabbi’s role may change according to time and place?

‍Step 3

For older students:

• Create a job description for a rabbi stating the 3 most important traits/skills they need and defining 3 main responsibilities.

For younger students:

• Create a picture/collage of a rabbi for their community with thought bubbles expressing their traits and responsibilities.