Darshan (Judaism)

A darshan (Hebrew: דַּרְשָׁן) or baal darshan (Hebrew: בַּעַל־דַּרְשָׁן) is a Jewish scriptural interpreter. Since the Middle Ages, it has referred to a professional sermonizer more broadly.[1][2] The title was given to Abtalion and Shemaiah in the 1st century BCE.[3]

Since the 1990s, some branches of Liberal Judaism have ordained lay leaders and chaplains as darshanim.^[citation needed] Today, the term is sometimes used for whoever delivers a sermon at a service, whether they are ordained or a layperson.

See also

• Maggid
• Moshe ha-Darshan

References

1. Berenbaum, Michael; Skolnik, Fred, eds. (2007). "Darshan". Encyclopaedia Judaica (2nd ed.). Detroit: Macmillan Reference. ISBN 978-0-02-866097-4.
2. Gries, Zeev (2008). "Preachers and Preaching". In Hundert, Gershon (ed.). YIVO Encyclopedia of Jews in Eastern Europe. Translated by Green, Jeffrey. New Haven: Yale University Press.
3. Pesachim 70b.