Question for DU Jews

[jmowreader]

Is your leadership hierarchical?

I know Christian religions have some kind of hierarchy to their leadership--the Catholics have priests, cardinals, monsignors, a pope and probably some other levels. And the various Protestant sects have pastors, bishops, regional leadership councils and so on.

But the only leadership position I've ever heard referenced in the Hebrew faith is rabbi. There seems to be several kinds of rabbi--the ones who lead services and the ones who supervise Kosher meat plants; there's even a rabbi assigned to the Campbell Soup plant in Maxton on days when Vegetarian Vegetable soup (which is now kosher; it's the only Campbell's variety that is) is made.

But are there rabbi supervisors who manage multiple congregations? And are they called rabbis, or is there another name for them?

I've wondered this for a while.

[JohnLocke]

1. No.

:)

[JM]

2. Generally, no...

...at least not in the Reform movement. Rabis are hired on a contractual basis by individual congregations. There is a "governing body" that defines the platform of the movement.

There are also organizations like CCAR (Central Conference of American Rabbis) and URJ (Union for Reform Judaism) that congregations can belong to, but those organizations are more for management, policy, etc. not for hierarchical purposes.

While some rabbis think they are like the Pope, they are not...

Later,
JM

[starroute]

3. Isn't there a Chief Rabbi in England?

It seems to me I've seen that phrase used -- never was sure about it though. Can anyone fill in the details?

[no_hypocrisy]

4. The Lubavitcher sect has a head rabbi or two. They call the shots as

far as how to live a good and proper Jewish life. They are treated like royalty. Their children are often betrothed shortly after birth to children of other head rabbis or an elevated post (like royalty marrying only royalty). Their weddings are attended by Lubavitchers from all over the world.