Category talk:Rabbis

Should this category be broken down into Category:Rabbis by nationality? As for Conservative/Reform/Orthodox/Reconstructionist, should that be under Category:Rabbis by sect or Category:Rabbis by sect or something? – Quadell (talk) (sleuth) 23:20, August 11, 2005 (UTC)
 * It's self-understood that Category:Orthodox rabbis & Category:Conservative rabbis & Category:Reform rabbis are "Rabbis by sect". And besides no-one uses the nomeclature of "rabbis by sect", it's unheard of. Also, at this time, there are not enough rabbis listed to list them by nationality. IZAK 10:50, 28 November 2005 (UTC)

Categories of rabbis
I think we should have a discussion about a rational division of rabbis. For example, I notice that the Vilna of Gaon is categorized as an Orthodox rabbi. Setting aside the controversy over which movement is a more faithful heir to the rabbinic legacy, isn't it reasonable to say that back in his time, the O/C/R/R distinction didn't exist? On the other hand, there are meaningful historical distinctions, i.e., between Chasidim and Mitnagdim, etc. This categorization can be valuable for anyone who wants to understand rabbinic history and literature, so I think we should try to work on it. What do others think? --Leifern 13:20, 23 November 2005 (UTC)


 * Leifern what is "irrational" about the present division? Then, the fact that "the O/C/R/R distinction didn't exist" is because EVERYONE was Orthodox in the days of the Vilna Gaon, which was the way it was for thousands of years till the spread of Reform. In any case, your question was already considered and that is why the label "Orthodox rabbis" is only applied from the 1700s onwards. Take a look, and you'll see that it done VERY carefully. Most rabbis until the 1600s are in Category:Middle Ages rabbis, look at it carefully again and you will see that that grouping was deliberately not called "Orthodox" because the Reform moevement in Germany basically begings officially in the early 1800s. At this time the Category:Hasidic rebbes has already been introduced. But, the thought of starting "Category:Mitnaged rabbis" has been avoided. Most non-Hasidic rabbis in Europe were NOT necessarilly strict adherents of the Vilna Gaon. His followers were mainly within the Lithuanian Jews. It is very safe at this time to go with Category:Orthodox rabbis which has the great advantage of avoiding confusion. No rational person is is crazy enough to think that the Vilna Gain was not Orthodox, but there is always the threat of revisionist temptation. For now, let us not rock the boat too much is what I say. IZAK 10:50, 28 November 2005 (UTC)

Rabbis are clergy?
Since when? Are they ordained? Are they not "religious leaders"? Laurel Lodged (talk) 08:45, 20 April 2021 (UTC)

Container category status
This is currently a container category, but has a number of articles with in it, and I suspect at least some of these would not fit easily into one of the sub-categories. Given this I wonder if the container status should be changed? Dunarc (talk) 20:48, 28 June 2022 (UTC)