Correctly Addressed

Forms of Address

How to address a rabbi

A rabbi is addressed as "Rabbi [Full Name]" on the envelope, not Mr./Ms. plus the name. The salutation is "Dear Rabbi [Last Name]:" and the same short form, "Rabbi," is used in conversation. A rabbi who also holds a doctorate is addressed as "Rabbi Dr. [Full Name]."

Checked September 10, 2026/5 min read

Claire Post

Written by Claire PostReviewed against USPS Publication 28

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What is on this page6 sections
  1. 01Step by step
  2. 02Quick reference
  3. 03Special cases
  4. 04Key terms
  5. 05Check before you mail
  6. 06Questions people ask
A rabbi standing before the Torah ark in a synagogue, holding the scrolls.

A rabbi title works differently from most of the offices on this site: it is not a courtesy title added in front of a personal one, it replaces the personal title outright. “Rabbi” does the job Mr., Ms., or Dr. would normally do, which is the one detail most people get wrong on a first attempt.

Everything else about the format is straightforward once that substitution clicks: the salutation, the spoken form, and even the married-couple variant all just extend the same core rule.

Step by step

  1. Use Rabbi directly before the full name on the envelope

    Rabbi functions as both the title and the professional identifier, so it replaces Mr./Ms. entirely rather than being added alongside it. Add the synagogue name and address below.

    RABBI DEBORAH L GOLDSTEINTEMPLE BETH SHALOM400 SYNAGOGUE WAYSPRINGFIELD MA 01103
    CorrectStandard envelope format for a rabbi.

  2. Use Rabbi plus last name in the salutation

    "Dear Rabbi [Last Name]:" is the standard formal salutation, used the same way regardless of the specific congregation or denomination.

  3. Use the same short form in conversation

    "Rabbi [Last Name]" on first address, "Rabbi" afterward, following the same convention as other professional and clergy titles on this site.

  4. Add Dr. only if the rabbi holds a separate earned doctorate

    "Rabbi Dr. [Full Name]" is correct when the person holds both titles. Rabbinic ordination itself is not a doctorate, so Dr. is only added when there is a genuine, separate academic degree behind it.

An open Hebrew Bible with a tallit and siddur on a wooden table.

Quick reference

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WhoEnvelopeSalutation
RabbiRabbi [Full Name]Dear Rabbi [Last Name]:
Rabbi with a doctorateRabbi Dr. [Full Name]Dear Rabbi [Last Name]:
Two rabbis, married to each otherRabbi [Full Name] and Rabbi [Full Name]Dear Rabbis [Last Name]:
Wooden benches near the Torah ark in an ornate synagogue interior.

Special cases

The rule above covers most people. Here is what changes for the rest.

How do I address an envelope to a married couple who are both rabbis?

"Rabbi [First Name] and Rabbi [First Name] [Shared Last Name]" on one line if they share a last name, or two full lines, one per person, if they do not. The salutation becomes "Dear Rabbis [Last Name]:"

Is Rabbi used the same way across different Jewish denominations?

Yes, the title and address form are consistent across Reform, Conservative, Orthodox, and other denominations. What differs by denomination is who is eligible for ordination, not how an ordained rabbi is addressed once in the role.

Key terms on this page

Rabbi
A title for an ordained Jewish spiritual leader and teacher, used directly before the full name in place of a general courtesy title.
Ordination
The formal process by which a person becomes a rabbi, distinct from an academic doctorate, which is why Dr. is only added when a separate degree is actually held.

Check the address before you mail

Questions people ask

Do I still use Rabbi if I am addressing them informally, like a thank-you note?
Rabbi is appropriate even in informal correspondence; it functions as the person title in day-to-day use, not only in strictly formal letters. Dropping it in favor of Mr./Ms. is generally not standard practice.
What if the rabbi also serves as a cantor or holds another synagogue role?
Rabbi remains the primary address form. A combined or additional title is only added if the specific correspondence calls for acknowledging both roles, which is uncommon in a standard envelope address.
Is this different from how other clergy, like a Christian pastor, are addressed?
The underlying logic, using the title directly before the name rather than Mr./Ms., is shared across most clergy titles, though the specific words and salutations differ by faith tradition — see how to address Protestant clergy for the pastor-specific forms.

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