Are rabbis required to marry or can they remain celibate?
Are rabbis required to marry or can they remain celibate? Answer: My own inclination is that because marriage itself is a positive commandment, historically the “Rabbi” or “Sage” would have been subject to the same rules. In Rabbinic literature – that is Talmudic literature – there are numerous statements endorsing marriage positively and at the same time commenting negatively on celibacy (TB 29 b; TB Yev. 62b, 63a;). Lastly, marriage was so important that if finances were at stake, one should sell a Sefer Torah in order to marry (Meg. 27a). Further in Jewish law, the European gloss of R. Isserles on the Shulchan Arukh OH 581:1 states that only one who is married may lead the congregation in worship – note that this is the Hazzan/Shaliah Tzibbur and not the Rabbi whose function may only have been to teach. How does that relate to Rabbis today? Most Rabbis marry. They marry for the companionship and children, but also in doing so they can better understand the dynamics of the family, wh
