From: 	 heb_roots_chr@mail.geocities.com
Sent: 	 Tuesday, September 23, 1997 12:16 AM
To: 	 Hebraic Heritage Newsgroup
Subject: Re: rabbi etc

heb_roots_chr@mail.geocities.com wrote:
> 
> To:            heb_roots_chr@geocities.com
> From:          Maranatha 
> Subject:       rabbi etc
> 
> Eddie,
> 
> Would you please explain the differences between the terms rabbi,
> rebbe and rav?  Also please include any other similar terms a new
> rooter should know.
> 
> Maranatha,
> Bob
>

From:          Messianic Rabbi Othniel
To:            <heb_roots_chr@mail.geocities.com>
Subject:       Re: rabbi etc


  Dear Bob,

  The words Rebbe and Rav are technically the same in meaning.  
Rebbe is Yiddish, Rav is Hebrew. Both mean Rabbi, which in English
means, "my teacher".

   In Chasidic; and some other circles,  the term Rebbe means much
more than just a rabbi.  A Rebbe is a great presence, a teacher endowed with
great wisdom and insight into Torah.  A Rebbe has many, many talmadim
or disciples.  The Rebbe is the leader of an entire community such as
the Lubavitch, Haradei, etc.  Perhaps one rebbe who may be best known
by many Jews as well as Christians would be the late Rebbe Menachem
Mendel Schneerson of Brooklyn, N.Y.  The Rebbe passed away about three
years ago, he was the leader of the Lubavitch Chasidim and many of
that community believed him to be the promised Messiah.  To my
knowledge, the Rebbe never claimed he was Mashiach, and then again, he
never said he wasn't either. His death has caused a great spiritual
crisis within his community and some Lubavitchers are waiting for him
to rise from the dead.  Of course we know that he will, on the last
day, but he will not be alone, and he will not be the one to cause the
rising.  Never the less, he was a sage of Israel and his memory
deserves respect.

  When many Jews hear the word Rebbe,  they think of the late Rebbe
Schneerson or other men alive or dead of his caliber.  When one uses
the term Rav,  then perhaps their own rabbi comes to mind.

  I hope I have answered your question.

  In Messiah,

  Rabbi O.

---------------------------------------------------
Rabbi Yehoshua M. Othniel
Biblical Studies Institute
P.O. Box 1452
Independence, KS 67301-1452

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From:          Michael Silver 
Organization:  Etz Chayim - Tree of Life Messianic Jewish Congregation
To:            heb_roots_chr@mail.geocities.com
Subject:       Re: rabbi etc


REPLY: Rabbi is the term in english for teacher or master. It is a term
used to denote a teacher of the Tanach or Talmud, etc. Rebbe is the
Yiddush term for rabbi that the Chassidic use. But to them a rebbe is
their leader and much more, is also a type of father figure. Rav is the
Hebrew for rabbi. HaHam is also a term the Orthodox use for rabbi.

Rabbi Mordecai
-- 
Rabbi Michael Silver (Rav Mordecai Ben-Baruch)
Etz Chayim - Tree of Life Messianic Jewish Congregation
P.O. Box 364, Organ, NM 88052 (near sunny Las Cruces)

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