rabbinate

noun

rab·​bin·​ate ˈra-bə-nət 

-ˌnāt

1

: the office or tenure of a rabbi

2

: the whole body of rabbis

Examples of rabbinate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

From its earliest days in the nineteenth century and until the Holocaust, the Orthodox rabbinate in eastern Europe was not enthusiastic about the Zionist movement, which at the time was led by irreligious Jews. —Elliott Abrams, Foreign Affairs, 1 July 2011

The Perez family chose to hold a burial ceremony for Daniel, a 22-year-old tank commander, immediately after receiving the news, as was encouraged by the Israeli military rabbinate. —Shira Rubin, Washington Post, 7 Apr. 2024

This Hollywood rabbinate explains that local synagogues have for decades required visible, often armed security. —Seth Abramovitch, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Dec. 2023

In 2005, the chief rabbinate of Israel said it is forbidden for Jews to walk on the site to avoid accidentally entering the Holy of Holies – the inner sanctum of the Temple, believed to be God’s dwelling place on earth. —Ken Chitwood, The Conversation, 9 Oct. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1702, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

rabbinate

noun

rab·​bin·​ate ˈrab-ə-nət 

-ˌnāt

1

: the office of a rabbi

2

: a group of rabbis