lesson from the Pentateuch, and he generally has one or more assistants (in Yiddish "behelfer" or belfer). The gemara melamed, on the other hand, teaches Bible and Talmud to the boys, and, when they are older, the Shulchan Aruch as well. Use of the term Among East European Jews, the word "melamed" is synonymous with respected and "rov," and the Yiddish term rebe is often used to mean a melamed as well as a Hasidic rebbe. Among the Karaites, the term denotes, like "rav" among the Rabbinites, "teacher" and "master," and is regarded as a title of honor. Consequently, there are among the Karaites many learned men who are called by the title "ha-melammed ha-gadol" (the great master), or merely "ha-melammed" (the master; comp. Pinsker, "Liḳḳute Ḳadmoniyyot", Index; Gottlober, "Biḳḳoret le-Toledot ha-Ḳara'im", pp. 195, 207, Wilna, 1865). See also Jewish education Cheder Jewish Encyclopedia bibliography Isaac Lampronti, Paḥad Yiẓḥaḳ, s.v., in addition to the authorities cited in the article References External links Hebrew words and phrases Jewish religious occupations Jewish education