What is the name of the preachers in a synagogue?

Answer 1

Judaism doesn't have preachers, that's a Christian concept.

Answer 2

The term "preacher" is not a Jewish concept, so there is no Jewish preacher.

Answer 3

Preacher is a very Christian term, but there are a number of roles in the synagogue service that resemble roles of Christian preachers:

-- the cantor (shaliach tzibbur in Hebrew) leads the congregation in prayer.

-- the torah reader (baal koreh in Hebrew) reads from the Torah scroll.

-- the person who gives a sermon (a dvar Torah in Hebrew).

-- the rabbi instructs the community and decides questions of Jewish law.

Rabbis frequently serve as shaliach tzibbur and baal koreh, and they frequently give a dvar Torah, but all of these roles may be performed by others. There is no requirement for ordination for any of these functions. Ordained cantors typically are experts at the liturgy, so in congregations that hire a cantor, the cantor will likely serve as shaliach tzibbur and baal koreh.

The closest function to preaching in the Jewish world would be the person who gives the dvar Torah, but I'm betting that the answer you expected was the rabbi.

Answer 4

There really isn't a traditional position in the Jewish community that you'd call a preacher. Rabbis and cantors are Jewish members of the clergy, and many of them do frequently preach, but preaching isn't the central defining role of either job. The "dvar torah" (words of Torah) or sermon is an optional, not central element of a typical synagogue service, and depending on the congregation, anyone may be called up to give one.

Answer 5

The questioner might be fishing for the word rabbi. However, while some rabbis do give sermons, the term preacher doesn't really match the job of a rabbi. Rabbis teach more than they preach, and it is common in Jewish circles to refer to a dvar Torah (words of Torah) instead of a sermon. In some congregations, you are more likely to hear a dvar Torah given by a lay member of the congregation than by the rabbi.