Rabbis normally spend more time sitting in a synagogue than standing, perhaps in the first row. Many synagogues provide special seating along the eastern wall, near the ark, for the synagogue president, bar mitzvah's family, or other dignitaries, in which case the rabbi might sit there. After all, a rabbi's primary function is to teach, not to officiate in the synagogue.
A traditional synagogue has a raised lectern in the middle where the cantor or prayer leader or Torah reader stands, facing the ark. During the Torah reading, which is the central part of the service Monday, Thursday, or Saturday morning or Saturday afternoon, there may be five or more people standing at the ark: the reader, the honoree, the previous honoree, and two gabbis or checkers who must correct any mistakes the reader makes. Of course the rabbi may be one of the honorees if he's celebrating his birthday or anniversary or a birth in the family. If a congregation doesn't have a cantor or enough other members competent to read Hebrew, the rabbi may have to take on the role of Torah reader or prayer leader on a regular basis.
In the past 200 years, many congregations have adopted the custom of a weekly sermon, delivered by the rabbi or other member. For this, the speaker usually faces the congregation itself and not the ark. These congregations often have another lectern in front of the ark or, in the case or many Reform or Conservative synagogues, a raised stage or dais, modeled after the altar of a church, instead of the traditional bima. If so, the Torah will be read in front and not in the midst of the congregation, and the practice may be for the speakers to turn around and face the congregation and not the ark, so people can see better. If so, the congregation might refer to this lectern or raised stage its altar or bima, depending on whether it prefers Christian or Jewish terminology.
The farther a synagogue may depart from traditional Orthodox practice and the fewer members it has who are literate in Hebrew, the greater the chance that the rabbi will have to spend more time standing and conducting services.
Wherever he wants to sit. Although a more liberal synagogue may establish
a more formal physical structure, with designated places for certain individuals
during the service, such placement is not as rigid in Orthodox synagogues.
In those, although there is certainly a front seat reserved for the rabbi out
of honor and deference to his knowledge and position, where he chooses
to sit makes no difference in the conduct of the service, and indeed no part
of the service even requires the rabbi's presence or participation.
The head of the synagogue is the rabbi !
The Rabbi The gabbai The shammes The board of trustees Synagogue president The cantor
Rabbi
Which one? There are several synagogues in Brighton and Hove. The Reform Synagogue's rabbi is, I believe, Rabbi Charles Wallach. The Progressive Synagogue has Rabbi Elizabeth Tikvah Sarah. Hove Hebrew Congregation (Orthodox) has Rabbi Hershel Rader. I'm not certain who runs the Chabad house, and Brighton's very famous Middle Street Synagogue as an inactive synagogue does not have a resident rabbi - though I believe Rabbi Rader and other rabbis do occasionally conduct services in the building. There are 4 operating synagogues in Brighton & Hove, plus Chabad and Chabad on Campus at Sussex University. The Rabbis are as follows. Brighton & Hove Hebrew Congration (Orthodox) Rabbi Rader Hove Hebrew Congregation (Orthodox) Rabbi Silverman Brighton & Hove Reform Synagogue: Rabbi Wallach Brighton & Hove Progressive Synagogue: Rabbi Sarah Chabad House, Hove: Rabbi Efune Chabad on Campus: Rabbi Lewis There is also a Brighton & Hove Community website at http://www.webjam.com/indi
Each synagogue has its own Rabbi. Some communities have a Rabbi whose authority is more widely recognized, but not all.
The bimah is the special table on which the Torah-scroll is placed when being read from in the synagogue. See also:More about Jewish prayer-services
The Rabbi's seat would be the chair reserved for the Rabbi on the bima in a synagogue.
The Rabbi visited the factory in order to ascertain its fitness for Kashrut (Kosher) certification.
Only at the synagogue during services
There is no Hierarchy The Rabbi is the head of each synagogue then there is a cantor and the people.
A bima is a raised platform in front of a synagogue where a rabbi usually stands.
The rabbi works at the synagogue, but rabbis can also work at schools summer camps, hospitals, and even Jewish retirement homes.