rabbanismin

Rabbanism refers to the system of religious leadership, authority, and legal interpretation associated with rabbinic Judaism. The term is derived from the Hebrew word rabban, meaning teacher or master, with rabbanim meaning rabbis. Rabbanism denotes the framework in which rabbis serve as interpreters of the Torah, arbiters of Jewish law, and leaders of communal life. It encompasses the development and application of the oral law, which, together with the written Torah, forms the basis of Halakha (Jewish law).

Historically, rabbinic authority emerged in the post-Temple era as Jewish communities organized around rabbinic academies in the Land of Israel and Babylonia. Over time, the compilation of the Mishnah and the development of the Gemara solidified a rabbinic legal culture. The Geonic period (roughly the 6th to 11th centuries) saw authorities known as the geonim guiding communities through question-and-answer traditions and legal rulings. In the medieval period, scholars such as the rishonim and acharonim expanded codification and commentary, reinforcing the central role of rabbinic authority in everyday religious and communal life. Rabbinic courts (beth din) and rabbinic education (yeshivot) formed key institutions.

Core features of rabbanism include the emphasis on study of both written and oral law, reliance on rabbinic rulings to resolve legal questions, and the authority of rabbis to interpret and apply Halakha within communities. It also produced a large body of responsa literature and helped organize Jewish life around standardized practices and rituals.

Rabbanism remains a central reference point for traditional rabbinic Judaism, while discussions about its authority have intersected with reform, conservative, and Karaite currents within Jewish history. See also Rabbinic Judaism, Halakha, Talmud, Geonim, Mishnah.