Calling everyone "Rabbi"

[Sam Finkelstein]

One of my teachers in high school was called Rabbi. He didn't have smicha. My brother-in-law constantly got mail addressed to Rabbi when he lived in Lakewood. He didn't have smicha at all. That's pretty common. For some reason, there isn't much outrage over something that actually matters. The title of Rabbi does mean something.

I wouldn't say there's no outrage...

It really cheapens the title for those who worked on earning it...

Imagine calling everyone in Teaneck "Dr."

[ckmk47]

There are Talmidei Chachomim who don't have actual semicha. 
Do you think those people should be called Rabbi?
Of course!
The question is where to draw the line.

[Sam Finkelstein]

I think we can all agree that calling every Tom, Dick, and Harry "Rabbi" is a bit much.

Personally, I always used these two tests:

• Does this person have Semicha or is otherwise known as a scholar?
• Does this person occupy a pulpit or teaching position?

[ushdadude]

Imagine calling everyone yideshe momma "Dr."

FTFY

[Kobe Bryant]

I think we can all agree that calling every Tom, Dick, and Harry "Rabbi" is a bit much.

Personally, I always used these two tests:

• Does this person have Semicha or is otherwise known as a scholar?
• Does this person occupy a pulpit or teaching position?

In the past, calling every Tom etc. Rabbi was the norm. I believe things have changed as Lakewood changed.

[Eb228]

I think we can all agree that calling every Tom, Dick, and Harry "Rabbi" is a bit much.

Personally, I always used these two tests:

• Does this person have Semicha or is otherwise known as a scholar?
• Does this person occupy a pulpit or teaching position?

They're called HaRav

Rabbi is like Mister for those that have somewhat of Yedias Hatorah and are not like the goy whom who call Mister, need to diffrentiate even for a Yiddishe Baal Habbos

[jj1000]

@Dan can verify but when his father was giving one of his first Torah classes he made a flier that said Mr. Manis Friedman on it and when the Rebbe saw it, he crossed out Mr. and wrote Rabbi.

He didn't have smicha at the time, but that's the story how how Manis got smicha from the Rebbe

[Something Fishy]

@Dan can verify but when his father was giving one of his first Torah classes he made a flier that said Mr. Manis Friedman

Well that was an unexpected roller coaster

[Sam Finkelstein]

They're called HaRav

Rabbi is like Mister for those that have somewhat of Yedias Hatorah and are not like the goy whom who call Mister, need to diffrentiate even for a Yiddishe Baal Habbos

Learning in Kollel/living in Lakewood does not magically give you Yedias HaTorah. If this someone is saying shiurim, etc. it's a different story.

[ushdadude]

Someone I know who worked as a mashgiach was told he has to call himself Rabbi on the job or else they won't respect his authority as much

[Eb228]

Learning in Kollel/living in Lakewood does not magically give you Yedias HaTorah. If this someone is saying shiurim, etc. it's a different story.

Of course it does, or at the very least, chashivus hatorah deserving of Rabbi over Mister.

Giving a shiur etc deserves HaRav

[imayid2]

Rabbi in English is a proper term which should technically be used for someone with specific qualifications. For example Reb Shraga Feival Mendelovitch absolutely insisted on being addressed as Mr for this reason.
However in Yiddish this is not the case, “Reb” is basically used as Mr . Over time Rabbi became the translation of “Reb”, and lost its prestige.
my2cents.

[Sam Finkelstein]

Rabbi in English is a proper term which should technically be used for someone with specific qualifications. For example Reb Shraga Feival Mendelovitch absolutely insisted on being addressed as Mr for this reason.
However in Yiddish this is not the case, “Reb” is basically used as Mr . Over time Rabbi became the translation of “Reb”, and lost its prestige.
my2cents.

Yes, using "Reb" when referring to Gedolim always bothered me. By the same token, getting mail addressed to "Rabbi" is also off-putting. No so much because I'm not a Rabbi, but because it's just become a default title given everyone.

[TimT]

https://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=102603.0

[ExGingi]

I often get addressed in Hebrew (mostly by bochurim) as הרב... to which my response is, אני לא רב ומשתדל גם לא לריב עם אף אחד. When people address me as Rabbi ... over the phone, I respond <firstname> <lastname> speaking.

[ushdadude]

I often get addressed in Hebrew (mostly by bochurim) as הרב... to which my response is, אני לא רב ומשתדל גם לא לריב עם אף אחד. When people address me as Rabbi ... over the phone, I respond <firstname> <lastname> speaking.

That's exactly how a Rosh Yeshiva would answer. People often report getting calls from "Avrohom Pam"

[ExGingi]

That's exactly how a Rosh Yeshiva would answer. People often report getting calls from "Avrohom Pam"

IINM the Modzitzer used to present himself in such a manner over the phone when reaching out in an attempt to help another Jew.

[~King Lake~]

IINM the Modzitzer used to present himself in such a manner over the phone when reaching out in an attempt to help another Jew.

Rachmastrivka Rabbi of Jerusalem when he calls someone he would say, Hi this is David Twerski Calling.
Viznitz Bnei Brak (Reb Yisroel) does the same.
Viznitz Monsey Rabbi does the same.
I'm sure there are more, just these 3 I've heard them saying it

[ExGingi]

Rachmastrivka Rabbi of Jerusalem when he calls someone he would say, Hi this is David Twerski Calling.
Viznitz Bnei Brak (Reb Yisroel) does the same.
Viznitz Monsey Rabbi does the same.
I'm sure there are more, just these 3 I've heard them saying it

Might be universal for true leaders (learning from והאיש משה ענו).

Under what circumstances would they actually pick up the phone and make a call?

[Euclid]

It's great for screening. If I get any phone calls asking for Rabbi Euclid, I know it's a solicitor.