[SeekAndFind]

RE: Jewish law stated that you cannot be a Rabbi unless you are married.

I have asked Orthodox rabbis they cannot find a requirement in the Talmud that requires a rabbit to be married.

However, they did find two talmudic counter-examples:

Sotah 4b says that Ben Azzai was unmarried.

On Kiddushin 71b R. Yehudah of Pumbeditha is asked why his son, R. Yitzchak, is not yet married (and is an adult).

Kiddushin 82a does argue that an unmarried man cannot teach children, but this appears to be a concern about the appearance of impropriety, not a question about his ability or knowledge.

So no, rabbis are NOT required to be married.

Rambam Hilchot Ishut 15:3

מי שחשקה נפשו בתורה תמיד ושגה בה כבן עזאי ונדבק בה כל ימיו ולא נשא אשה אין בידו עון והוא שלא יהיה יצרו מתגבר עליו, אבל אם היה יצרו מתגבר עליו חייב לישא אשה ואפילו היו לו בנים שמא יבוא לידי הרהור.‏

Someone who wished to only study Torah his whole life like Ben Azzai (See Monica Cellio's answer) and clings to it his whole life and never married, he does not have a sin on his hands. This only applies if his desires do not get the better of him, but if he cannot control his desires he must marry, even if he has children [from a previous marriage].

According to Rambam, getting married is highly recommended, even for a rabbi, but is not an absolute requirement.

[randog]

Good rundown on Jewish law.

It’s my understanding that the Jewish word ‘rabbi’ is synonymous with the Christian word ‘pastor’—they both mean ‘teacher’, and when Jesus was referred to as ‘rabbi’ it was meant as a term of respect to a great teacher.

[Slings and Arrows]

I have asked Orthodox rabbis they cannot find a requirement in the Talmud that requires a rabbit to be married.

Bunnies worldwide rejoice.