Tish (Hasidic celebration)

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Belzer tish. Purim 5766 (2006).
Belzer tish. Purim 5766 (2006).

A tish (from Yiddish: 'table') is a Hasidic gathering of Hassidim around their Rebbe. It may consist of speeches on Torah subjects, singing Hassidic melodies known as niggunim (singular niggun) and zemiroth (hymns), with refreshments being served. Hassidim see it as a moment of great holiness. They are public events that are open to non-Hassidim as well.

Tish (טיש) (or Tisch), literally means a "table" in Yiddish. Within Hasidism it refers to any joyous public celebration or gathering or meal by Hasidim at a "table" of their Rebbe. Such a gathering is often referred to in Hebrew as Arichas HaShulchan (עריכת השולחן), the "setting of the table". The term "Shabbos tish" is also sometimes used in Yiddish regarding the Sabbath meal of any Jewish family, but this article will only focus on the former use. At a tish the Rebbe sits at the head of the table and the Hasidim gather around the table. In large Hasidic movements, only the Rebbe and his immediate family with a few close disciples partake of the meal, but small pieces of bread, fish, meat, poultry, farfel, beans, kugel, or fruit, as well as small cups of kosher wine or other beverages, are distributed to all present as shirayim (שירים). In such large courts, there are often bleachers, known as parentches (פארענטשעס) in Yiddish, for observers of the Tish to stand on. In smaller courts there is usually more food available for observers to partake of. Often, in both large and small tishen, the Rebbe will personally distribute shirayim food to individuals. Hassidim believe that the Rebbe will have a personal blessing for each person who partakes of the food he gives them.

In some Hasidic movements, the Rebbe only eats his Sabbath meals at the Tish, often waiting many hours, until the Hasidim have finished their meals, to begin his own meal with the recitation of the Kiddush prayer. In other courts, the Rebbe begins his meal at home with his family, and then comes to join the Hasidim in the synagogue to end the meal. In yet other courts, the entire Tish is conducted after the meal has been finished at home. In such a case only dessert, usually consisting of kugel and fruit, is served, as well as soft drinks, usually seltzer-water. Such tishes are known as a Peiros Tish (פירות טיש) (Fruit Tish).

Some Hassidic movements hold a tish every shabbos (Sabbath); others do so only on Jewish holidays. The time at which a tish can be held also differs. For example, Belzer Hassidim have their tish both on Friday night late at night and on Saturday afternoon for seudas shlishis, while Gerrer Hassidim only have their tish on Saturday afternoon or early evening for seudas shlishis.

Sometimes, a Hasidic gathering similar to a Tish is conducted without the presence of a Rebbe. This is called a botteh (באטע) in Yiddish or a Sheves Achim (שבת אחים) in Hebrew. It is often led by a Rabbi who is not a Rebbe, such as a Rosh Yeshivah, Mashgiach Ruchani, or a Rebbe's son. Often, a batteh will be indistinguishable from a Tish, for the respect that many Hasidim have for their Rebbe's son is often very close to the reverence for the Rebbe himself, as he is the assumed heir to the throne.

Hassidim may also visit the tish of another Rebbe, and non-Hassidic Jews often visit a tish also.

A tish takes place at the meals in honor of the Sabbath, Jewish holidays, Yahrzeit ("annual memorial") for previous rebbes of that dynasty, as a seudas hoda'ah ("meal of thanksgiving") to God for past salvations (such as escape from prisons or from the Holocaust), or some other seudas mitzvah.

A tish is usually also held on minor holidays such as Lag b'Omer, Hanukkah, Purim, Tu Bishvat, on the minor days ('Chol Hamoed') of major festivals such as Sukkos and Pesach, and before and after the fast of Yom Kippur.

The nature of the tish differs from group to group but during the tish, the Hasidim intently and silently watch the rebbe eating the meal and are extremely eager to receive shiraim ("leftovers") from every portion, believing it to be a great merit (zechus) to eat something from the leftovers of a Tzadik's ("righteous person") meal. Many Hasidim claim that miracles can take place in merit of partaking of the shiraim, such as miraculous healing or blessings of wealth or piety.

Hasidic songs, or niggunim (ניגונים), are sung with great gusto. The songs may at times be either joyous or solemnly meditative. The rebbe may teach words of Torah, often mystical passages from the Midrash, Zohar, and the Kabbalah during the tish. He may also tell Hasidic stories, parables, and history. He may also give religious commentary on current events and politics.

Women do not sit with the men (because Orthodox Judaism is very strict about the separation of the sexes) but they are often present to observe the tish from the ezras noshim (women's section) in the main synagogue or hall where it is taking place. The women present do not sing aloud and they often do not receive the shiraim, although sometimes they do.

A tish can vary in size from a handful to thousands of people. Large tishen are usually held in special rooms in the main building of a Hasidic movement. Sometimes they are held in the main synagogue. Around the holidays, when thousands of Hasidim who live in other cities or countries come to pray and visit with their Rebbe join the Hasidim who live near the Rebbe and things can get very crowded, they are sometimes held in a large temporary structure. Small tishen are often conducted in private homes, particularly when a Hassidic Rebbe is visiting another community, these events are usually open to the public.

Among Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidim, a Hasidic gathering known as a Farbrengen (פארברענגען) (meaning "joyous gathering" in Yiddish), is celebrated, similar to a Tish. Lubavitcher Hasidim would refer to a joyous gathering together with their Rebbes as a farbrengen and not as a tish. A Farbrengen may be conducted without the presence of a Rebbe, similar to a Sheves Achim, and even with the presence of only a few Hasidim. At a Farbrengen, zemiros are not sung, but rather only nigunim.

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[edit] Videos of tishen

A large number of videos of tishen can be found on Google Videos.