Rabbinic Authority

By Elliot Salo Schoenberg, International Director of Placement, RA

How does a rabbi establish rabbinic authority? Two synagogue lay leaders (Robert Jossen, past president of Temple Israel Center, White Plains and Chistine Levin, President, Germantown Jewish Center, Philadelphia) recently shared their thoughts with members of the RA. These thoughtful, sensitive and wise lay leaders made the following suggestions:

  1. Be yourself. Authenticity matters. 
  2. Be confident. Presentation matters. 
  3. Rabbinic authority is earned. The rabbi needs to work to gain the trust of the congregation by being a competent rabbi. Ordination by itself does not confer rabbinic authority in the eyes of lay people.
  4. Rabbinic authority is a relationship. The lay leaders frequently used the word “partnership” in describing rabbinic authority. Even when the rabbis are clearly in the defined area of their authority like a halakhic practice, the lay leaders suggested it is always good practice to check in with the lay people. 
  5. There is a gray area – there are areas of religious practice and synagogue management which are jointly owned by the clergy and the lay leadership. Rabbis need to understand there are times when they will be called to take the leadership role and times when it is appropriate to take a step back.
  6. Do not be apologetic. Exercise your authority with respect, but don’t apologize for it.

Other ideas? What examples of success can you share for your successful rabbinic authority, what works? What does not work? How do gender or other factors play a role?

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