If people wish to discuss personal problems or questions, he should be available to meet with them. He will take part in synagogue members’ simchas. He will visit families who are sitting shiva and may officiate at funerals. Some rabbis invite congregants into their homes for Shabbat dinners, Sukkot meals, and Passover Seders, all good ways for the rabbi and the congregants to get to know each other outside the synagogue walls.
- A rabbi should be a leader
To be a leader is to effectively and competently advance the goals of a group. A Jewish religious leader furthers the objectives of his synagogue and congregation – objectives that may encompass religious, social, and political elements.
If you break down to its individual components the skills of a successful rabbi, you’ll get a list of the qualities that make him an effective leader. For me, those qualities are what I have discussed here: being knowledgeable, a teacher, inspiring, observant, a tzaddik, accepting, genial, a counselor, and available. Ultimately, the sum is greater than the parts.
As the religious leader of a shul, a rabbi should always carry himself in a respectful and dignified manner. Having a commanding presence may also be necessary as I have seen rabbis who come across as weak or indecisive incur the impertinence of congregants.
On the other hand, humility is a wonderful quality that does not show weakness, and like politicians who score points with constituents by taking a personal interest in them and their families, it is especially nice, as noted above, when a rabbi takes a personal interest in the lives of congregants and their families.
- A rabbi should be knowledgeable about Jewish current events
In today’s world a rabbi needs to educate his congregants not just about religion but about issues related to Israel and Jewish life. The politics of our age are not especially kind to Jews, and Jews who get their news solely or mainly from the mainstream media may draw unfavorable opinions about Jewish people and the state of Israel.
Today’s Jew needs to be savvy about the politics of the world, and a rabbi who is an acute observer, and can filter out biased reporting, can be an invaluable source of information for his congregants.
Like rabbis throughout time, today’s pulpit rabbi needs not just to lead religiously but also to help his congregants navigate their way through the morass of anti-Semitic invective.
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Clearly the job of a rabbi is vital, challenging, and demanding. He is not only a religious leader but also a complex amalgamation of psychologist, social worker, politician, and public relations worker. He is a scholar, mentor, cheerleader, and guiding spirit. His work is multifaceted and complex, but he can make a veritable difference in the lives of his congregants, synagogue, and local community.
My admittedly idealized inventory of attributes notwithstanding, it goes without saying that rabbis are human. Just like the rest of us, they have their own personal lives and worries, their own faults and foibles. Despite their higher calling, they are not automatons, and congregants should temper their expectations with realistic considerations.
Indeed, few if any rabbis actually live up to all the qualities discussed here. In real life rabbis may have specific strengths and specific weaknesses, but that certainly doesn’t mean they are necessarily anything less than proficient or excellent.
And being a rabbi is not unlike being a professional in other fields – there is always more to learn, more to reflect on, better ways to interact, new courses of action.
