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Rebbe, Rebbe

It is not uncommon for a hasidic Jew to have a rebbe as a spiritual guide and to go to a (another) rav for a ruling on an issue of religious law.

Example: "I will ask my rebbe, Rabbi so-and-so, for advice about this personal matter." Among chasidim, a rebbe is referred to in Hebrew as " Admor ", and a rav is often referred to as " Av Beis Din ", the leader of a beth din, even if he does not lead any beth din. In some instances, such as Munkacs and Sanz, the two terms are sometimes interchangeable.

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.

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.

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.

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 Kosov Rebbe makes yearly pilgrimages to the Tosher Rebbe. Nonetheless, his chasidim remain very loyal to him. The most well-known "rebbe of rebbes" was the Satmarer Rebbe, Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum.

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 kvitl , and in every hasidic movement there are numerous anecdotes relating how the rebbe saw things that were not written in the kvitl . In most hasidic groups, the kvitl is written by the rebbe's gabbe (secretary), however sometimes the petitioner writes it him or her self. Usually, but with some exceptions, a pidyon (redemption) of cash is customarily handed to the rebbe under the kvitl , 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 gabbe , although this too is not obligatory.

Source: Wikipedia > Rebbe