Rebbe (רבי) (pronounced /ˈrɛbə/ in English[1]), which means master, teacher, or mentor, is a Yiddish word derived from the Hebrew word Rabbi. In accordance with Yiddish pronunciation norms, the stress is on the first syllable and the final vowel is sometimes reduced to a schwa, but is other times pronounced "ee."
Whilst Rebbe is a term that refers to many leaders of Jewry, 'Rebbe' or 'Rebbi' when mentioned in the Talmud is a reference to the redactor of the Mishna, Rabbi Yehudah Hanasi. In common parlance of modern times, the term 'The Rebbe' is often used by Hasidim to refer to the leader of a Hasidic movement, for example, by Lubavitcher Hasidim referring to their Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson.
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Today Rebbe has three meanings:
In the American Yeshivish world, when not referring to a Chasidic Rebbe, the word may be pronounced "Rebbee".
Rebbe come from the Hebrew word rav, meaning great, and might mean the equivalent of "my master." It was an honorific originally given to those who had Smicha at the beginning of the first millenium, though because vowels were not written at the time, it is impossible to know if it was pronounced rah-bee or r-bee. The English word rabbi directly comes from this form. In Yiddish, the word became reb-eh (now commonly spelled rebbe) or just reb.
The Sages of the Mishnah known as the Tannaim, from the 1st and 2nd centuries of the common era, were known by the title Rabbi, for example Rabbi Akiva and Rabbi Shimon bar Yochoy. Rabbi Yehudah haNasi, the leader of Jewry in Mishnaic Times, was simply called Rabbi, meaning "The Rebbe of the Generation".
The Sages of the Talmud known as the Amoraim from the 3rd, 4th and early 5th centuries, those born in the Land of Israel, are called Rabbi; those born in the diaspora are known by the title Rav.
The Lubavitcher chasidim have a tradition that the Hebrew letters that make up the word rebbe are also an acronym for "Rosh Bnei Yisroel", meaning "a spiritual head of the Children of Israel".
A Rebbe is sometimes distinct from a 'Rav' or 'Rov' who is an authoritative Halachic decider and leader of a Jewish, often Chassidic, community) in that a significant function of a Rav is to answer questions of Halacha (Jewish law). A Chasid has a Rebbe as a spiritual guide and to go and sometimes an additional Rav for a ruling on an issue of Halachah, Jewish law.
Chasidim use the term to denote someone that they perceive not only as the religious leader of their congregation, but as their spiritual adviser and mentor. A rebbe is someone whose views and advice are accepted not only on issues of religious dogma and practice, but in all arenas of life, including political and social issues.
Sprouting Chasidim use the concept of a (non-Chasidic) Rebbe. Example: "I will ask my Rebbe, Rabbi Ploni (so-and-so), for advice about this personal matter."
As a rule, among all Chasidim, Rebbe is referred to in Hebrew as "Admor", an abbreviation for Adoneinu Moreinu V'Rabeinu, Our Master Our Teacher Our Rebbe, which is now the modern Hebrew word in Israel for "rebbe" (pl. admorim).
A Rebbe is generally taken to mean a great leader of a Hasidic dynasties, also referred to as Grand Rabbi in English or an ADMOR, a Hebrew abbreviation for Adoneinu-Moreinu-veRabbeinu ("our lord/master, teacher/guide and rabbi/teacher").
Rabbi Yisroel Baal Shem Tov, the founder of Hasidism is regarded by Hasidim, as the first Hasidic rebbe.
During his lifetime he was referred to mainly as "The holy one" rather than as "Rebbe," and his disciples were "magidim" or "preachers", such as the Magid of Chernobyl or the Magid of Mezritsh.
The first "rebbe" to be known as such was the Baal Shem Tov's grandson, Rabbi Boruch of Mezhbizh who was referred to as "The Rebbe" during his lifetime. After him, those who rose to positions of leadership and their successors began to be called rebbe. The title gradually came to suggest a higher spiritual status.
Each Hasidic group refers to its leader as "the rebbe".
Hannah Rachel Verbermacher, also known as the Maiden of Ludmir or the "Ludmirer Moyd", was the only female rebbe in the history of the Hasidic movement; she lived in the nineteenth century in Ukraine and Israel.[2][3]
Outside of Hasidic circles the term "Grand Rabbi" has been used to refer to a rebbe. The practice became widespread in America in the early 1900s when Hasidic rebbes began to emigrate to the United States and was derived from the German Grossrabbiner.
A chasidic rebbe is generally understood to be an exceptionally righteous person (called a "tzaddik"). According to Kabbalah (and particularly the chasidic understanding of Kabbalah), the world is sustained on the "shoulders" of several exceptionally righteous people in a generation (tzaddikim). These people are understood to have perfected their personal service of God to such an extent that they become literally and physically aware of God. These righteous people's perception (of both spiritual and physical, not to mention temporal matters) transcends the apparent boundaries of existence, such that a Rebbe will appear to be able to "see the future," or at least have strong insight into the life and trials of another. Furthermore, a rebbe is said to be able to affect divine providence.
As a result, chasidim in some chasidic circles seek their rebbe's advice for a variety of concerns: spiritual, physical, and even business concerns. Furthermore, many people seek the blessing (brocho) of a rebbe (and a chosid will specifically seek the blessing of his own rebbe) for anything from minor (and all the more so major) physical troubles, to grand spiritual concerns. Many famous and common stories of a rebbe's intervention involve women who successfully seek a rebbe's blessing for fertility so that they can conceive after having been barren for many years.
Given a rebbe's physical awareness of God, and the Rebbe's transcendent perception of Godliness, many chasidim take special care to observe the specific and sometimes minute practices of their Rebbe. Even things that seem mundane may nonetheless be seen by chasidim as incredibly significant. For example, Lubavitcher chasidim frequently shape their fedoras to match the way that the Lubavitcher Rebbe shaped his hat-which was more flat than many others. Many Skverer chasidim (of the Skverer Rebbe in New Square) wear their peyos identical to those of the Skverer Rebbe. While chasidim do not always follow the specific practices of their rebbe, the rebbe is able to create practices that may be specific and unique to his chasidim. For example, Rabbi Aaron Roth (Reb Areleh, as he was called) the first rebbe of Shomer Emunim, told his chasidim to pause frequently while eating their meals in order to keep them from overindulging.
A chosid will usually love his rebbe like a close family member, if not more so. But the degree and nature of this belief varies depending on the movement. In some movements the chasidim believe that their rebbe is the "tzadik hador" (greatest and holiest saint of the generation) and would regard any thought that detracts from his perfection and holiness as heresy. Other sects lessen this idealization to some degree or another. Since many rebbes are sons-in-law or students of other rebbes, it makes sense that they would view themselves as subordinate to those other rebbes. Nonetheless, their chasidim remain loyal to them because of their special loyalty, a family connection, or a belief that a specific tzaddik (though there may be others of greater spiritual stature) connects best with one's soul. For example, the Kosover Rebbe makes yearly pilgrimages to the Tosher Rebbe. Nonetheless, his followers remain very loyal to him.
There are some functions which are exclusively the domain of hasidic rebbes:
Others are not exclusive to Hasidic rebbes, but are often an important part of their role:
A rebbe has times when Hasidim (and other petitioners) may come for a private audience. A kvitel (Yiddish for "note", plural kvitlach) is a note with the name of the petitioner and a short request for which the rebbe is asked to pray. The formula in which a person's name is written is one's own Hebrew name, the son/daughter of one's mother's Hebrew name, such as Shimon ben Rivkah (Simeon the son of Rebecca). Hasidim believe that rebbes read supernaturally "between the lines" of a kvitel, and in every Hasidic movement there are numerous anecdotes relating how the rebbe saw things that were not written in the kvitel. In most Hasidic groups, the kvitel is written by the rebbe's gabbai (secretary), however sometimes the petitioner writes it on his own. Usually, but with some exceptions, a pidyon (redemption) of cash is customarily handed to the rebbe under the kvitel, however this is not obligatory. This is considered to be the conduit through which the blessing is given, and a redemption for the soul of the petitioner. ("A gift makes its receiver glad" is given as an explanation: a blessing only comes from a joyous heart.) It is also customary to tip the gabbai, although this too is not obligatory.
A rebbe conducts a tish (Yiddish: פֿירט טיש: feert tish, literally, "table")—a (communal festive) meal with highly mystical overtones—on Shabbat and other occasions. At a tish, the rebbe distributes shirayim (lit. remnants) to the Hasidim seated at or gathered round the table. When a gathering similar to a tish is led by a rabbi who is not a rebbe, it may be referred to as a botte (esp. amongst groups from Romania) or sheves achim.
In Israel, some of the best known Hasidic groups are those of Belz, Boston, Chabad-Lubavitch, Ger, Karlin, Kaliv, Nadvorna, Slonim, Vizhnitz, and Dushinsky, each having their own Rebbe. Some of the larger or better known chasidic groups in the United States of America are Bobov, Chabad-Lubavitch, Klausenburg, Lubavitch, Munkatch, Puppa, Satmar, Skulen, Skver, Tshernobl. A more complete list of chasidic groups can be found here.
Some Hasidic rebbes have thousands of followers, or disciples, called Hasidim, whilst others may number only a few hundred. Some rebbes have only a title, but do not have a following beyond their own family members and a few congregants in their synagogues. Rebbes often have a synagogue or beis medrash (study hall) where they pray, learn, and interact with their Hasidim.
Rebbes are usually called by the Yiddish name of the geographic region in which they or their predecessors gained prominence: e.g., the first Bobover Rebbe lived in Bobowa, Poland, the first Skulener Rebbe lived in Sculeni, Bessarabia, the first Munkatcher Rebbe in Munkacs, Ukraine and the first Bostoner Rebbe, served as a rebbe in Boston, Massachusetts.
The Lubavitcher and Breslover Hasidim do not have a living rebbe, but continue to follow the previous rebbe of the movement. In the case of Lubavitch, this is Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneersohn; in the case of Breslov, it is the founder of the group, Rabbi Nachman of Breslov.
Menachem Mendel Schneerson • Alexander • Alesk • Amshinov • Anipoli • Apt • Avritch • Ashlag • Belz • Berditchev • Beregsaz • Biala | Bluzhov • Bobov • Bohush • Boston • Boyan • Burshtin • Chabad-Lubavitch • Chentshin • Chernobyl • Chernovitz • Cheshenov • Chortkov • Chust • Cleveland • Deyzh • Dinov • Dombrov • Dorog • Drohobitch • Dushinsky • Dzikov • Faltichan • Ger • Glogov • Gorlitz • Grodzisk • Grybov • Hornsteipel • Hornostaypil-Milwaukee • Husiatyn • Izhbitz • Kalov • Kaminka • Kapust • Karlin-Stolin • Kashou • Kerestir • Klausenberg • Kobrin • Koidanov Komarno • Kopyczynitz • Korets • Koson • Kosov • Kotsk • Kozhnitz • Kozlov • Kretchenif • Krula • Kshanov • Kutna • Kuzmir • Lantzhit • Lechovitsh • Lelov • Liozna • Liske • Lutsk • Machnovka • Makarov • Makove • Manestrishtze • Mattersdorf • Melitz • Mezhbizh • Milwaukee • Modzitz • Mogelnitz • Mosholu • Munkatch • Muzhay • Nadvorna • Narol • Nassod • Nikolsburg • Nitra • Novominsk • Ostrof • Ozharov • Pinsk-Karlin • Pilzno Chassidut • Pittsburgh • Porisov • Premishlan • Pshemish • Pshevorsk • Pshischa • Pupa • Rachev • Rachmastrivka • Radomsk • Radoshitz • Radzin • Ratzfert • Rimanov • Rimnitz • Rizhin • Ropshitz • Sadigura • Sanz • Sasregen • Sassov • Satmar • Savran • Serdahel • Seret • Shedlitz • Shenitza • Shepetivka • Shidlovtza • Shinova • Shomer Emunim • Shotz • Shpikov • Shtefanesht • Skolye • Skula • Skulen • Skver • Slonim • Sochatshov • Spinka • Stanislav • Stitshin • Strashelye • Stretin • Strikov • Strizov • Stropkov • Strozhnitz • Sudylkov • Sulitz • Tshenstechov • Tshenstkovitz • Temishvar • Toldos Aharon • Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok • Tolno • Toltchav • Tosh • Trisk • Tshokava • Vien • Vizhnits • Vurka • Yeruslav • Zhvill • Zhvil-Mezhbuz • Zidichov • Zidichov-Beregsaz • Zinkov • Zhmigrod • Zlotchiv • Zychlin
Bikovsk • Dzirka • Lizhensk • Lublin • Mezritch • Mishkenos HoRoim • Piasetzne • Shpola • Zutchke
Breslov • Lubavitch • Malochim