Rebbe

A Rebbe (Yiddish: רבי, romanized: rebe) or Admor (Hebrew: אדמו״ר) is the spiritual leader in the Hasidic movement, and the personalities of its dynasties.^[1] The titles of Rebbe and Admor, which used to be a general honor title even before the beginning of the movement, became, over time, almost exclusively identified with its Tzadikim.

This article is about the social functions of Hasidic leadership. For the Hasidic theory of leadership, see Tzadik. For Menachem Mendel Schneerson (commonly referred to as The Rebbe), see Menachem Mendel Schneerson. For other uses, see Rebbe (disambiguation).

Hasidism[edit]

As a rule, among hasidim, rebbe (/ˈrɛbə/) is referred to in Hebrew as admor (pl. admorim), an abbreviation for Hebrew adoneinu moreinu v'rabeinu (Hebrew: אדמו"ר acronym for אדוננו מורנו ורבנו), meaning 'our master, our teacher, and our rabbi', which is now the modern Hebrew word in Israel for rebbe.

Hasidim use the term rebbe also in a more elevated manner, to denote someone that they perceive not only as the religious leader or nasi^[4] of their congregation, but as their spiritual adviser and mentor. The Rebbe or my Rebbe in this sense is a rav or rabbi whose views and advice are accepted not only on issues of religious law and practice, but in all arenas of life, including political and social issues. Sometimes a Hasid has a rebbe as his spiritual guide and an additional rav for rulings on issues of halakha.

Hasidim use the concept of a (non-Hasidic) rebbe in the simple sense of rabbi, as the Yiddish-German equivalent to the Hebrew word רַבִּי‎ rabi [ˈʁäbi]. For example: "I will ask my rebbe (/ˈrɛbə/), Rabbi (/ˈræbaɪ/) Ploni (so-and-so), for advice about this personal matter."

The Rav — This role refers to Hasidic Rebbes who also served as ordained rabbis serving Jewish communities. Examples of this type cited by Schachter-Shalom include and Pinchas Horowitz. For some Hasidic Rebbes, such as Chaim Halberstam of Sanz, the term Rav was used instead of Rebbe.

Shmelke of Nikolsburg

The Good Jew — This role, known in as the Guter Yid, refers to a popular Hasidic Rebbe who is viewed as enjoying God's favor and whose legacies spoke to the conditions of struggling Hasidim. This role was viewed as a continuation of the Talmudic legacy of individuals such as Honi HaMe'agel. Examples of Hasidic Rebbes of this type cited include Aryeh Leib of Shpola and Berishil of Krakow.

Yiddish

The Seer — This role, known in as the Chozeh, refers to a Hasidic Rebbe was ascribed prophetic powers. Examples of this type cited include the Seer of Lublin and his student Tzvi Hirsh of Zidichov.

Hebrew

The Miracle Worker — This role, known in Hebrew as the Ba'al Mofet, was often assumed by Hasidim to involve expertise in . Examples cited include Ber of Radoshitz.

Practical Kabbalah

The Healer

Yechezkel Landau

The Son or Grandson of the Tzaddik — This role applied to Hasidic Rebbes who would utilize ancestral merit of a Hasidic predecessor to invoke blessing. In Yiddish, the term einykel (grandson) would sometimes be used. Often, this role involved the use of petitions at the gravesite of the Hasidic predecessor. Examples cited of this type include who was the grandson of the Baal Shem Tov, the founder of Hasidism.

Boruch of Medzhybizh

The Block Rebbe — This type is viewed to have developed in New York City from 1900 to 1940 and involved a grandfatherly role to local Jewish residents.

The Kabbalist — This role, also known in Hebrew as the Ba'al M'kubal, involved expertise in the theoretical teachings of Jewish mysticism. Examples cited include (the founder of Chabad Hasidism), Yisroel Hopstein (the Maggid of Kozhnitz), and Isaac of Komarno.

Shneur Zalman of Lyady

The Spiritual Guide — This role, known in Hebrew as the Moreh Derekh ("Teacher of the Path"), reflects the Hasidic notion that Rebbe is the expert on matters of the Love and Fear of God. The Hasidic Rebbe reportedly insisted on the use of this term. While Schachter-Shalom notes that Hasidim valued the living guide over the use of books, some Rebbes, such as Shalom Dovber of Lubavitch, wrote various tracts for different types of spiritual seekers.

Aharon Roth

The Tzaddik of the Generation — This role, known in Hebrew as Tzaddik HaDor, or Rashey Alafim ("Head of Thousands"), invokes the stature of Biblical leaders and is viewed mystically as the conduit of all blessing for the Jewish people of that generation.