Sunday, April 9, 2017

conversion to judaism - Do Rabbis have to be Jewish by ethnicity?


I am under the impression that a person can be received into Judaism from a gentile nation. My question is whether or not that person could conceivably then become a Rabbi?



Please indicate whether your answer has always been the case, or whether this (non/)requirement has always been consistent within Judaism.



Answer



Shemaya and Avtalyon, two great rabbis from the 1st century BCE, are identified in the Talmud (Gittin 57b) as converts. So it seems that converts can become rabbis, and even important ones. I know of no sources that imply the law on this matter was different before that point.


See also this question: Can a convert be a prophet?


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