What is a Rabbi and Do We Really Need One?
with Rabbi Josh

For centuries, rabbis have been sages, judges, preachers, counselors, gatekeepers, and change-makers. The role has never stood still. It has reinvented itself in every age. Today we are on the edge of another turning point. Communities are experimenting with lay leadership. Artificial intelligence is beginning to answer questions once reserved for clergy. And when a rabbinic presence is absent, doors can close: access to rituals, representation at the Jewish table, and recognition of who belongs.

This class will not hand you neat answers. It is designed to stir the pot. Together we will ask: What has a rabbi been? What might a rabbi become? Could a community flourish without one, or does the absence risk shrinking its voice and visibility?
Come ready for history, provocation, and spirited debate. Be prepared to wrestle with power, access, and imagination. Expect to walk away with more questions in the best Jewish way.