Jewish Professions

Throughout history, Jewish people have worked in a variety of professions, shaped both by tradition and historical circumstances. Religiously, roles like rabbis, cantors, soferim (scribes), mohels, and shochetim have been central to Jewish life. Historically, especially in Europe, Jews often became merchants, traders, moneylenders, tailors, or doctors, partly due to restrictions on other occupations. Today, Jewish people work in all fields—science, arts, business, and politics—showing that their professional contributions are as diverse as any community’s.