Darshan (Judaism) Explained

A darshan or baal darshan 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. 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

Further reading

• Marc Saperstein (1992), Jewish Preaching, 1200-1800: An Anthology, yale university press.
• Marc Saperstein (2014), Your Voice Like a Ram's Horn: Themes and Texts in Traditional Jewish Preaching, Hebrew Union College Press.

Notes and References

1. Darshan.
2. Encyclopedia: Preachers and Preaching. Zeev. Gries. Jeffrey. Green. YIVO Encyclopedia of Jews in Eastern Europe. Gershon. Hundert. Gershon Hundert. New Haven. Yale University Press. 2008.
3. https://www.sefaria.org.il/Pesachim.70b.5?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en Pesachim 70b