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