What is the Jewish equivalent of a priest?

The term that serves as the Jewish equivalent of a priest is "Rabbi." A Rabbi is a religious leader and scholar within Judaism who is qualified to provide spiritual guidance, teach religious laws, and lead worship services. Unlike priests in other religions who may perform sacrifices or rituals in a temple setting, Rabbis focus on the interpretation of Jewish texts, ethics, and community leadership.

In Judaism, the role of the Rabbi emerged after the destruction of the Second Temple, where traditional priestly functions associated with sacrifices were no longer applicable. Instead, the Rabbi became the authoritative figure for religious teaching and moral guidance within the community.

The other options refer to religious roles in different faiths: an Imam is a leader in Islam, cleric is a general term that can refer to ministers in various faiths, and a monk is typically associated with certain traditions in Buddhism or Christianity. Therefore, the specificity of "Rabbi" in the context of Judaism distinguishes it clearly as the correct answer.