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.
In contemporary Judaism, as the term rabbi has become commonplace, the term rav has come to apply to rabbis with levels of knowledge, experience, and wisdom in excess of those found among the majority of rabbis who serve Jewish congregations as a career. In some cases, rav thus refers to full-time scholars of Torah who do not receive compensation.
Overview
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.
In some Hasidic groups, the Rebbe is also referred to as a Rav. In other circles, the Rav is distinct from the Rebbe but the highest Dayan—a rabbinical court justice—of the group.
From the 16th century and onwards, Rav' or the Rav generally referred to Rabbi Obadiah ben Abraham, a.k.a. haRav miBartenura (the Rav from Bartenura). Rabbi Obadiah miBartenura becomes the Hebrew acronym Rabbi `Obadiah of Bartenura (רע"ב).
More recently, as a sign of great respect, some rabbis are simply called the Rav even outside of their personal followings. Note that when the word is pronounced using a patakh, the meaning is almost universally rabbi Obadiah ben Abraham of Bartenura. When using a kamatz, the term can refer to, among others:
Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik: Among Centrist and Modern Orthodox Orthodox Jews, particularly in North America. Sometimes spelled "The Rov".
The Vilna Gaon: The line of his disciples and their actual descendants (who include both of the Rabbis Soloveitchik on this list) is called Beit HaRav, "The House of the Rav."
Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook: His followers in Israel will often refer to him as "The Rav"; the school he founded is commonly called "Merkaz HaRav", "The Rav's Center".
Rabbi Moshe Feinstein: A leading halachic authority of his generation from the mid to late 20th century; his p’sakim (halachic rulings) were accepted worldwide.[5]
In a synagogue
When Orthodox Jews say "The Rav said..." within a synagogue, it is fairly likely that they're referring to the rabbi of the synagogue.[6][7]
Rav HaTzair
The title Rav HaTzair (or Rav HaTza'ir) refers to an assistant rabbi.[8][9]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,[10] or Junior Rav.[11]
^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."
^The Talmud: what it is and what it says：Jacob Neusner
^Adin Steinsaltz, The Talmud: The Steinsaltz Edition; A Reference Guide (New York: Random House, 1989), p. 139.
