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Rabbinical Movement


Question:
When and why did the rabbinical movement start? That is, why did Rabbis become the leaders our congregations rather than the Cohens (priests)?


AskTheRabbi.org answered:
The Rabbis have always been the ones that explain the Torah and rule in matters of Jewish Law. Moses was not a Kohen and he is called "Rabbeinu" which means "Our Teacher". Even in Temple times there was a High Priest and there was also the head of the Sanhedrin which was the highest legal and spiritual body in the Jewish world. In fact, the Talmud states that a Talmid Chacham, a Torah scholar, takes precedence over an ignorant High Priest.

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