Calling people with questionable smicha Rabbi

This is a great topic because all the people ever who didn’t get smicha were equally accomplished in Torah and all didn’t get smicha for the same reason and all had the same position although it’s not clear from the earlier posters whether it was in klei kodesh or not. It goes without saying that all the people who did get smicha are equally accomplished in Torah and all have the same occupation as spiritual authorities in which they are called upon to rely on their Torah knowledge regularly. That’s why it’s important that there be a rule that all people with smicha be referred to the same was as all other people with smicha, and all people without smicha be referred to the same way as all other people without smicha. Relatedly, if you follow the rules carefully, you will never make the tragic error of calling someone “rabbi” who didn’t deserve it.

You still would call a Catholic Priest, father or a protestant minister, Reverend. Even if you don’t follow their religion. It is a sign of respect. So too should every rabbi you meet be called rabbi or you are just disrespecting the individual.

Is there an actual issur, that you are NOT ALLOWED to call someone without smicha, Rabbi?

I have always erred on the side of respect and call everyone, Rabbi, Dr, etc. Let them correct me. But is there a halachic issue in calling someone Rabbi, for darchei shalom?

CC613: I’m a girl and therefore cannot evaluate a person’s learning that way. I do sense how “comfortable” the person is quoting Tanach, so if it’s a big deal that they know a random Chazal, they are probably not that educated. But I cannot tell anything about their halachic expertise.

I need to know the following: Is it permissible to call someone who is not a Rabbi, “Rabbi”?

R’ Avigdor Miller said that anyone who learned 500 blatt gemara with Rashi and Tosafot could use the title rabbi.

I have a master’s degree in education, became BT, learned in a yeshiva in Israel for a few years, never made it to the highest sheur, but received a Semicha by passing a test over various topics in Issur v’Heter even tho my Hebrew and Gemorah-learning skills were weak. I did so so I could complete against Conservative and Reform “Rabbis” for Jewish educator positions at JCC’s, CAJE’s/BJE’s, Jewish Federations, Hillels… As a result, the people who came to my 100s of classes that I taught over the years were given a Torah-true perspective on the material which they would not have receive if a non-Orthodox rabbi held my position. And, since obtaining this Semicha, I, of course, continued my learning. However, I never use the title Rav when getting an Aliyah. If others with a “quickie” Semicha would do the same I see nothing wrong with it.

Be respectful and call anyone who has been given any kind of semicha “rabbi”. If you don’t trust the semicha, just don’t ask them shilas!

My husband is a chover but not a rabbi. He’s humble, so it doesn’t bother him that his title never gets used, but I want everyone to know it, so I use it here.

About Time; this is a nice story but I doubt it happened,unless you show it to me in actual print. Couets in the US would not get involved in such a dispute- it would breach the First Amendment.

A diploma is an earned title which, once conferred, cannot be retracted. This is customary the world over.

Actually, a diploma (or, more specifically, a degree) can be revoked. Many colleges will revoke a degree if they find that you engaged in academic fraud while obtaining it.

The Wolf

I heard that Reb Shlomo Carlebach gave two different types of Semicha’s. One was for his Hevrei who hung out with him, knew “something,” and wanted the title to help them get part-time teaching gigs at Hebrew Highs, JCC adult ed classes, etc. He also gave another Semicha which required a pretty solid knowledge of Talmud and Halakhah, and was geared for those who wanted to be the rabbi of a synagogue.