Hinduism: Details about 'Rebbe'
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Rebbe (Hebrew: רבי also rebbi) is a title that may be given to a Rabbi in Orthodox Judaism, particularly within Hasidic Judaism.
Terminology and historyThe word Rebbe is a mispronunciation of the Mishnaic Hebrew word Rabbe (or "Rabbi" which is spelled correctly but mispronounced in English) meaning "my master" or "my teacher". The early teachers of the Mishnah (in early Greek and Roman times) had the title Rabbe, such as Rabbi Akiva, Rabbi Simeon bar Yohai. Rabbi Judah haNasi was simply called "Rabbe". UsageThe word Rebbe as used today could have three definitions: 1) Religious Jews when they talk of their main teacher of Torah, such as their own Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi or Professor that tought them Torah, would refer to him as "my Rebbe, Rabbi so-and-so". 2) Orthodox Jewish male students of yeshiva and earlier education refer to their religious teachers as "Rebbe" (and in third person either also "Rebbe" as a proper name or "the rebbe" depending on location). 3) The leader of a Hasidic sect or dynesty. It is this definition that the remaider of the article will discuss. Distinctions between rebbe and ravA rebbe is distinct from a 'rav' (a word usually translated as Rabbi, who is a leader of an Orthodox Jewish community, either Hasidic or non-Hasidic) in that a rebbe need have no scholarly attainments, and as such is not necessarily qualified to pasken halakha (decide points of Jewish law). It is not uncommon for a Hasidic Jew to have a rebbe and to go to a rav for a ruling on an issue of religious law. Interestingly, there have been female rebbes, among them the 'Maidl fun Ludmir' (the Maid of Ludmir). Hasidim 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 are accepted not only on issues of religious dogma and practice, but in all arenas of life, including political and social issues. There may be non-Hasidim who use the concept of a (non-Hasidic) rebbe in this context and would also use this term. Example: "I will ask my rebbe, Rabbi so-and-so, for advice about this personal matter." Hasidic RebbesThe first and greatest Hasidic Rebbe, according to Hasidism, was its founder Israel ben Eliezer, known as the Ba'al Shem Tov ("Master Good Name"). His disciples who rose up or were selected for positions of leadership and their successors have thereafter been honored with the same title, Rebbe. The title gradually came to suggest a higher spiritual status. Each Hasidic group refers to its leader as "The Rebbe." A Hasidic leader is also known as an AdMoR (an acrostic for ''Ad Mo R'', " Master, Teacher, Rabbi"). As an example, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the leader of the Chabad Lubavitch Hasidim, was referred to as "The Rebbe" by Lubavitch Hasidim, as well as by many non-Lubavitchers who speak of him. Relationship of Hasidim to their RebbeHasidim follow all, or most, of their rebbe's minhagim. A Hasid will usually love his rebbe like a close family member, if not more so. He would seek his rebbe's blessings and advice in every aspect of life. But the degree and nature of this belief varies depending on the sect. In some sects the Hasidim 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, while other sects lessen this idealization to some degree or another. Some of the more fervent sects in this regard are, foremost, the followers of Lubavitch, then a host of others like Karlin-Stolin, Ger, Belz and Skver. Some with a greater degree of belief in their Rebbe's fallibility are Vizhnitz and Satmar. In the last decade, the degree of belief in the rebbe has fallen dramatically in many sects (arguably including all of those mentioned above, except Lubavitch and perhaps Karlin-Stolin). Kvitlach and tishTo date there are generally—although there are quite a few exceptions—two primary characteristics that mark a rabbi as a rebbe. One is reading kvitlach (Yiddish: "notes"). A kvittle is a note with names and short requests for which the rebbe is asked to pray. Hasidim believe that rebbes read supernaturally "between the lines" of a kvittle, and in every Hasidic sect there are numerous anecdotes relating how the rebbe saw things that were not written in the kvittle. The kvittle is usually written by the rebbe's gabbai (secretary). Usually, but with some exceptions, a pidyon (redemption) of cash is handed to the rebbe under the kvittle. It is also customary to tip the gabbai. The second is conducting or feering a tish on the Sabbath and other occasions. Hasidic sectsIn Israel, some of the best known Hasidic groups are the Ger, Nadvorna, Vizhnitz and Belz Hasidim, each having their own rebbes. In the United States of America there are the Satmar (founded by Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum), Puppa, Skulen, Skver, Czernobyl, Bobov, and Lubavitch Hasidim. Some Hasidic rebbes have thousands of followers, or disciples called hasidim, (meaning "righteous ones"), whilst others may have only a few hundred. Some only have a title, but don't have a following beyond their own family members and a few congregants in their synagogues. Rebbes are usually called by the Yiddish name of the geographic region in which they or their predecessors gained prominence: e.g., the Bobover Rebbe is tied to Bobow (Poland), the Skulener Rebbe is tied to Skuleny (Transcarpathia), and the Bostoner Rebbe is tied to Boston, USA. Some Hasidim, such as those who are Breslov follow their deceased Rebbe Nachman of Breslav. Similarly, the Lubavitchers remain loyal to the deceased Rabbi Schneerson, who died childless, and his followers continue to follow and venerate him after his passing. There are a few hundred groups of Hasidim that have sprung up over the generations. As it is impossible to list them all here, only some of the bigger and well known ones will be listed. Rebbes of different dynastiesRebbes of Belz
Rebbes of Bobov
1. Grand Rabbi Shlomo Halberstam (1847-1905) 2. Grand Rabbi Ben Zion Halberstam (1874-1941) 3. Grand Rabbi Shlomo Halberstam (1907-2000) 4. Grand Rabbi Naftali Halberstam (1930-2005) 5. Grand Rabbi Mordecai David Unger (b. 1955) 5. Grand Rabbi Ben Zion Halberstam (b. 1955) Rebbes of Breslov
Rebbes of Ger
Rebbes of Chabad Lubavitch
Rebbes of Karlin
Rebbes of Pupa
Rebbes of Satmar (Sighet-Uhel)
Rebbes of Skverr
Rebbes of Toldos Aharon-Reb Arele
1. Grand Rabbi Aharon "Arele" Roth, the previous Shomer Emunim Rebbe 2. Grand Rabbi Avraham Chaim Roth, the present Shomer Emunim Rebbe, son of Reb Arele 2. Grand Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Kahn, the previous Toldos Aharon Rebbe, author of Divrei Emunah - son-in-law of Reb Arele 3. Grand Rabbi Shmuel Yaakov Kahn, the Toldos Avraham Yitzchak Rebbe, son of the Divrei Emunah 3. Grand Rabbi Dovid Kahn, the present Toldos Aharon Rebbe, son of the Divrei Emunah Rebbes of Viznitz
1. Grand Rabbi Menachem Mendel Hager - The Tzemach Tzaddik 2. Grand Rabbi Baruch Hager - The Imrei Baruch 3. Grand Rabbi Yisrael Hager - The Ahavas Yisrael 4. Grand Rabbi Chaim Meir Hager - The Imrei Chaim 5. Grand Rabbi Moshe Yehoshua Hager - The current Rebbe of Vizhnitz 5. Grand Rabbi Mordechai Hager - The current Rebbe of the Monsey branch of Vizhnitz See also
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