Rabbi is the term in Judaism for a religious teacher. The word rabbi derives from the Hebrew root word , rav, which in biblical Hebrew means ‘great’ in many senses, including "revered." The word comes from the Semitic root R-B-B, and is cognate to Arabic ربّ rabb, meaning "lord" Rabbi ' onMouseout='HidePop("28543")' href="http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Rebbetzin">rebbetzin
Rebbitzin or Rabbanit is the title used for the wife of a rabbi, typically from the Orthodox, or Haredi, and Hasidic Jewish groups...
who serves as a spiritual mentor in
Tomchei TemimimTomchei Temimim is the central Yeshiva of the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic movement...
(the Chabad
yeshivaYeshiva or yeshivah , or metivta or mesivta ) also frequently referred to as a Beth midrash, Talmudical Academy, Rabbinical Academy or Rabbinical School is an institution unique to classical Judaism for study of its traditional, central texts...
), in a girls' seminary belonging to the
Chabad-LubavitchChabad-Lubavitch is a Hasidic movement in Orthodox Judaism. One of the world's largest Hasidic movements, it is based in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York...
Hasidic movement, or in a Chabad community.
Definition
Although counterparts to the mashpia exist in both Hasidic and non-Hasidic movements (such as the
Mashgiach ruchaniMashgiach Ruchani or mashgiach for short, means a spiritual supervisor or guide. It is a title which usually refers to a rabbi who has an official position within a yeshiva and is responsible for the non-academic areas of yeshiva students' lives...
), this term is exclusive to the
Chabad-LubavitchChabad-Lubavitch is a Hasidic movement in Orthodox Judaism. One of the world's largest Hasidic movements, it is based in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York...
Hasidic movement, because this mentoring role is significantly different from the approach of other groups. It refers specifically to one whose communal service as a spiritual mentor includes providing:
- communal guidance through regular public lectures and classes, and leading farbrengen
A Farbrengen is a Hasidic gathering. This term is only used by Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidim, as other Hasidim have a Tish. It may consist of explanations of general Torah subjects, with an emphasis on Hasidic philosophy, relating of Hasidic stories, and lively Hasidic melodies, with refreshments being...
s, Chasidic gatherings;
- personal guidance in matters of decent interpersonal conduct and fine character traits;
- inspiration to strive ever higher in one's spiritual growth, through intensive Torah
The term "Torah" , refers either to the Five Books of Moses or to the entirety of Judaism's founding legal and ethical religious texts...
study and observance of Mitzvos, particularly according to the Chabad Hasidic tradition;
- answers to those seeking clarification on matters of Hasidic philosophy
Hasidic Philosophy or Hasidus are the teachings, interpretations of Judaism, and mysticism articulated by the modern Hasidic movement...
, customs, and general conduct according to the Chabad-Lubavitch school of thought; and
- personally-tailored advice on how to advance in the uniquely Chabad discipline of avodas ha'tefilah, lit. "the service of prayer." This discipline involves lengthy meditation on sublime Hasidic concepts before and during the course of prayer.
The nature of the mashpia's role is alluded to in the preface to the
TanyaTanya is a book more commonly known by its opening word although titled Likkutei Amarim , an early work of Hasidic Judaism, written by Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, the founder of Chabad, in 1797 CE.The Tanya is the fundamental work of Chabad Philosophy, as it describes the general Chabad...
, the classic text of
Hasidic philosophyHasidic Philosophy or Hasidus are the teachings, interpretations of Judaism, and mysticism articulated by the modern Hasidic movement...
written by Rabbi
Shneur Zalman of LiadiShneur Zalman of Liadi , also known as the Baal HaTanya, , was an Orthodox Rabbi, and the founder and first Rebbe of Chabad, a branch of Hasidic Judaism, then based in Liadi, Imperial Russia...
, the first
RebbeRebbe , which means master, teacher, or mentor, is a Yiddish word derived from the identical Hebrew word Rabbi. It mostly refers to the leader of a Hasidic Jewish movement...
of Chabad-Lubavitch. It is discussed in numerous public talks delivered by Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Schneersohn, the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, and Rabbi
Menachem Mendel SchneersonMenachem Mendel Schneerson , known as the Lubavitcher Rebbe or just the Rebbe amongst his hasidim, was a prominent hasidic rabbi who was the seventh and last Rebbe of the Chabad Lubavitch movement...
, the seventh Lubavitcher Rebbe. In particular, he instructed that one should approach one's mashpia regularly to be
examined and evaluated.
There is a distinction to be drawn between a
RavRav is the Hebrew word for rabbi. For a more nuanced discussion see semicha. The term is also frequently used by Orthodox Jews to refer to one's own rabbi....
, i.e., a personal mentor and adviser, and a mashpia. Although the two terms are similar and often used interchangeably, the latter term usually refers to someone knowledgeable and scholarly, who holds some official communal position. The former term, however, refers to an individual who is chosen simply as an objective outsider to offer advice and guidance. This person need not be otherwise qualified.
Mashpi'im of old
- Reb Hillel HaLevi of Paritch, d. (Paritch/Babroisk, Russia)
- Reb Michoel der Alter, d. (Lubavitch, Russia)
- Reb Zev Wolf Levitin, d. (Lubavitch, Russia)
- Reb Shmuel Groinem Esterman, d. (Lubavitch, Russia)
- Reb Shileim Kuratin, d. (Lubavitch, Russia)
- Reb Itche Der Masmid
Yitzchok Horowitz, more commonly known as Reb Itche der Masmid, was a famous Orthodox Rabbi in pre-war Europe. Specifically, he served as a Mashpia, Hasidic mentor of the Chabad movement. He was born to Shlomo Menachem Mendel and Elka Horowitz in the city of Bereznehuvate, in the Kherson...
, d. (travelling mashpia in pre-WWII Europe]]
- Reb Dovid Horodoker (Kievman), d. (travelling mashpia in pre-WWII Europe)
- Reb Zalman Moishe HaYitzchaki
Shneur Zalman Moishe HaYitzchoki, usually known familiarly as Reb Zalman Moishe, , was an Orthodox Jewish Chabad-Lubavitch Rabbi in pre-war Europe, and towards the end of his life, in the Land of Israel. Specifically, he served as a Mashpia and shochet...
, d. (Nevel, Russia; Tel Aviv, the Land of Israel)
- Reb Avrohom Drizin (Mayorer), d. (Russia, Crown Heights, NY)
- Reb Shlomo Chaim Kesselman, d. (Kfar Chabad, the Land of Israel)
- Reb Shmuel Levitin, d. (Russia; Crown Heights)
- Reb Menachem Mendel Futerfas
Rabbi Menachem Mendel Futerfas , known informally as Reb Mendel, was a famous Chabad Mashpia. He was a top student of the famed Mashpia, Reb Zalman Moishe HaYitzchaki.-Activities:...
, d. (Russia; Kfar Chabad, the Land of Israel)
- Reb Nissan Neminov
Rabbi Nissan Neminov, known familiarly as Reb Nissan, was an Orthodox Rabbi. Specifically, he served as a Mashpia, Hasidic mentor, in the Yeshiva of Tomchei Temimim in Brunoy, near Paris, France. He taught many thousands of students during his lifetime, and was renowned for his piety and abstinence...
, d. (Brunoy, France)
- Reb Zalman Serebryanski
Rabbi Yehoshua Shneur Zalman Serebryanski, known familiarly as Reb Zalman, was an Orthodox rabbi and Mashpia belonging to the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic movement...
, d. (Melbourne, Australia)
- Reb Yehuda Chitrik
Rabbi Yehuda Chitrik was an author and Mashpia in the Chabad Hasidic community in Brooklyn, New York.-Early life:...
, d. (Crown Heights, NY)
- Reb Chatche Feigin, d. (Lubavitch, Russia)
Mashpi'im of today
- Reb Yoel Kahn
Rabbi Yoel Kahn is a senior Chabad rabbi, Mashpia, choizer and community leader. He has served in this role for four decades. Until 1966 he also served as Meiniach. He lives in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, New York. He is referred to familiarly amongst Chabad Chasidim as Reb Yoel, or just Yoel...
(770 Eastern Parkway770 Eastern Parkway is the street address of the central headquarters of the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic movement, located on Eastern Parkway in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, New York, in the United States of America.-History:...
, Crown Heights, NY)
- Reb Nachmon Schapiro (Oholei Torah)Crown Heights, NY)
- Reb Volf Greenglass (Montreal, Canada)
- Reb Meilech Tzvibel (Rabbinical College of America
The Rabbinical College of America is one of the larger Chabad Lubavitch Chasidic Yeshivas in the world. The Yeshiva is located in Morristown, New Jersey and has trained thousands of young Lubavitch rabbis. Many other Jewish families have moved into the area to be near the Yeshiva and surrounding...
, Morristown, NJ)
- Reb Zalman Gopin (Kfar Chabad, the Land of Israel)
- Reb Itche Meir Gurary (Montreal, Canada)
- Reb Boruch Lesches (Sydney, Australia; Monsey, NY)
- Reb Fitche Ofen (Yerushalayim/Tsfas, the Land of Israel)
- Reb Shloime Zarchi (770 Eastern Parkway
770 Eastern Parkway is the street address of the central headquarters of the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic movement, located on Eastern Parkway in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, New York, in the United States of America.-History:...
, Crown Heights, NY)
- Reb Berel Lipsker (Crown Heights, NY)
- Reb Avrohom Lipskier (Seagate, NY)
- Reb Avrohom Boruch Pevzner (Yerushalayim, the Land of Israel)
- Reb Zushe Alperovitch (Kiryat Gat, the Land of Israel)
- Reb Yosef Yitzchak Segal (Migdal Ha'Emek, the Land of Israel)
- Reb Sholom Charitonov (Oholei Torah
Oholei Torah is the common name of the Lubavitch schools Educational Institute Oholei Menachem and Talmudical Seminary Oholei Torah...
, Crown Heights, NY)
- Reb Shloma Majesky (Machon Chana
Machon Chana is a private religious school for Jewish women in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York affiliated with the Chabad Hasidic movement...
, Crown Heights, NY)
- Reb Ya'akov Winner (Yeshivah Gedolah Zal
Yeshivah Gedolah Zal , Yeshivah Gedolah, The Rabbinical College of Australia and New Zealand, or colloquially, Y.G., is a government accredited yeshiva, an academy for young Orthodox Jews to devote themselves to full-time rabbinical studies. It is located in St Kilda East, Victoria, Melbourne,...
, Melbourne, Australia)
- Reb Noam Wagner (Lubavitch Yeshiva Gedolah of Johannesburg
The Lubavitch Yeshiva Gedolah of Johannesburg is a Chabad Yeshiva based in Orchards, Johannesburg. It is headed by Rabbi Noam Wagner, with Rabbi Y...
, S. Africa)
- Reb Mendel Lipskier (Melbourne, Australia)
- Reb Simcha Werner (Monsey, NY)
- Reb Yossi Jacobson (Crown Heights, NY)
- Reb Moshe Horenshtein (Tzfat, the Land of Israel)
- Reb Yossi Gurary (Detroit, Michigan)
- Rabbi Menachem Mendel Gordon (London, England)
- Reb Itche Nemenov (Brunoy, France)
- Reb Nechemye Bluming (Brunoy, France)
- Reb Yisrolik Segal (Brunoy, France)
- Reb Kuti Feldman (Crown Heights, NY)
- Reb Tuvia Bolton (Kfar Chabad, The Holy Land)
- Reb Simcha Bart (Los Angeles, Ca)
- Reb Mendel Schapiro (Los Angeles, Ca)
- Reb Shabsi Yaakov Adler (Toronto, CA)
- Reb Mordechai Friedman (Cottage Grove, Minnesota)
- Reb Pinye Korf [Oholei Torah], Crown Heights, NY)
Mashpi'ois
Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, in a historically unprecedented initiative, also encouraged women and girls to assume a similar role of providing guidance, referring to such a woman as a
mashpi'oh (
Heb.Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afro-Asiatic language family. Culturally, it is considered a Jewish language. Hebrew in its modern form is spoken by more than seven million people in Israel while Classical Hebrew has been used for prayer or study in Jewish communities around the world for over...
משפיעה), pl.
mashpi'ois (
Heb.Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afro-Asiatic language family. Culturally, it is considered a Jewish language. Hebrew in its modern form is spoken by more than seven million people in Israel while Classical Hebrew has been used for prayer or study in Jewish communities around the world for over...
משפיעות). This role is usually more community-focused.
Current mashpi'ois
External links