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Mashpia ( he, משפיע) or feminine Mashpi'oh lit. "person of influence", pl. Mashpi'im ( he, משפיעים) is the title of a
Hasidic Hasidism, sometimes spelled Chassidism, and also known as Hasidic Judaism ( Ashkenazi Hebrew: חסידות ''Ḥăsīdus'', ; originally, "piety"), is a Jewish religious group that arose as a spiritual revival movement in the territory of conte ...
rabbi A rabbi () is a spiritual leader or religious teacher in Judaism. One becomes a rabbi by being ordained by another rabbi – known as '' semikha'' – following a course of study of Jewish history and texts such as the Talmud. The basic form o ...
who serves as a spiritual mentor, whose main influence and teachings are in matters of the worship of
God In monotheistic thought, God is usually viewed as the supreme being, creator, and principal object of faith. Swinburne, R.G. "God" in Honderich, Ted. (ed)''The Oxford Companion to Philosophy'', Oxford University Press, 1995. God is typically ...
, the correction of virtues and spiritual elevation. The source of the title is in the
Lubavitch Chabad, also known as Lubavitch, Habad and Chabad-Lubavitch (), is an Orthodox Jewish Hasidic dynasty. Chabad is one of the world's best-known Hasidic movements, particularly for its outreach activities. It is one of the largest Hasidic groups ...
er Chassidus, in which the teachers of Chasidic teachings are referred to as Mashpi'im. The general Hasidic public adopted this name around the year 2000 for rabbis who do not serve as congregational rabbis, and give shiurim in Hasidut and in the service of God. Some of the influencers began to lead communities, some as an alternative to Hasidic groups and some in parallel. In addition, the title Mashpia is used for
Mashgichim A mashgiach ( he, משגיח, "supervisor"; , ''mashgichim'') or mashgicha (pl. ''mashgichot'') is a Jew who supervises the kashrut status of a kosher establishment. Mashgichim may supervise any type of food service establishment, including sl ...
in Hasidic yeshivas, whose role is in the spiritual guidance of the young men, rather than supervision of their attendance during learning hours. This title is nowadays commonly used in Breslov Hasidic movements, who have no
rebbe A Rebbe ( yi, רבי, translit=rebe) or Admor ( he, אדמו״ר) is the spiritual leader in the Hasidic movement, and the personalities of its dynasties.Heilman, Samuel"The Rebbe and the Resurgence of Orthodox Judaism."''Religion and Spiritu ...
. Previously, the subjects of this position were referred to as "community rabbis".


Mashpi'im in Chabad

Chabad Chabad, also known as Lubavitch, Habad and Chabad-Lubavitch (), is an Orthodox Jewish Hasidic dynasty. Chabad is one of the world's best-known Hasidic movements, particularly for its outreach activities. It is one of the largest Hasidic group ...
-Lubavitch mashpi'im 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'' (, yi, פארברענגען, lit= oyousgathering; german: verbringen "to spend ime/solidarity/festivity together) is a Hasidic gathering. This term is only used by Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidim, as other Hasidim have a '' tish'' or ...
s'', Hasidic 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 Torah (; hbo, ''Tōrā'', "Instruction", "Teaching" or "Law") is the compilation of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, namely the books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. In that sense, Torah means the ...
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 Hasidism ( he, חסידות), alternatively transliterated as Hasidut or Chassidus, consists of the teachings of the Hasidic movement, which are the teachings of the Hasidic ''rebbes'', often in the form of commentary on the ...
, 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 role of mashpi'im is alluded to in the preface to the Tanya, the classic text of
Hasidic philosophy Hasidic philosophy or Hasidism ( he, חסידות), alternatively transliterated as Hasidut or Chassidus, consists of the teachings of the Hasidic movement, which are the teachings of the Hasidic ''rebbes'', often in the form of commentary on the ...
written by Rabbi
Shneur Zalman of Liadi Shneur Zalman of Liadi ( he, שניאור זלמן מליאדי, September 4, 1745 – December 15, 1812 O.S. / 18 Elul 5505 – 24 Tevet 5573) was an influential Lithuanian Jewish rabbi and the founder and first Rebbe of Chabad, a branch of ...
, the first
rebbe A Rebbe ( yi, רבי, translit=rebe) or Admor ( he, אדמו״ר) is the spiritual leader in the Hasidic movement, and the personalities of its dynasties.Heilman, Samuel"The Rebbe and the Resurgence of Orthodox Judaism."''Religion and Spiritu ...
of Chabad-Lubavitch. It is discussed in numerous public talks delivered by Rabbi
Yosef Yitzchok Schneersohn Yosef Yitzchak (Joseph Isaac) Schneersohn ( yi, יוסף יצחק שניאורסאהן; 21 June 1880 – 28 January 1950) was an Orthodox rabbi and the sixth Rebbe (spiritual leader) of the Chabad Lubavitch Chasidic movement. He is also known ...
, the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, and Rabbi
Menachem Mendel Schneerson Menachem Mendel Schneerson (Modern Hebrew: מנחם מענדל שניאורסון; old-fashioned spelling: מנחם מענדל שניאורסאהן; April 5, 1902 OS – June 12, 1994; AM 11 Nissan 5662 – 3 Tammuz 5754), known to man ...
, the seventh Lubavitcher Rebbe. In particular, he instructed that one should approach one's mashpia/mashpi'oh regularly to be examined and evaluated. There is a distinction to be drawn between a
rav ''Rav'' (or ''Rab,'' Modern Hebrew: ) is the Hebrew generic term for a person who teaches Torah; a Jewish spiritual guide; or a rabbi. For example, Pirkei Avot (1:6) states that: The term ''rav'' is also Hebrew for ''rabbi''. (For a more nuan ...
and a mashpia/mashpi'oh. Although the two terms are similar and often used interchangeably, the former term usually refers to someone knowledgeable and scholarly, who holds some official communal position. The latter term, however, refers to an individual who is chosen simply as an objective outsider to offer advice and guidance, and is chosen based on his personal exemplary conduct. This person need not be otherwise qualified.


Mashpi'ois

The seventh Lubavitcher Rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schneerson, also encouraged women and girls to assume a similar role of providing guidance, referring to such a woman as a ''mashpi'oh'' (), pl. ''mashpi'ois'' ().


Notable Chabad mashpi'im

;Past *
Hillel HaLevi of Paritch Hillel HaLevi Malisov of Paritch, a levite by birth, commonly known as Reb Hillel Paritcher (1795-1864) was a famous Orthodox Jewish Chabad Rabbi in Russia. Specifically, he served as a Mashpia ( Hasidic mentor) and communal rabbi in the towns ...
, d. (Paritch/
Babruysk Babruysk, Babrujsk or Bobruisk ( be, Бабруйск , Łacinka: , rus, Бобруйск, Bobrujsk, bɐˈbruɪ̯s̪k, yi, באָברויסק ) is a city in the Mogilev Region of eastern Belarus on the Berezina River. , its population was 209 ...
, Belarus, formerly part of the Russian Empire) *
Zalman Moishe HaYitzchaki Shneur Zalman Moishe HaYitzchoki, usually known familiarly as Reb Zalman Moishe, (c. 1872-3 Shvat, 1952), was an Orthodox Jewish Chabad-Lubavitch Rabbi in pre-war Europe, and towards the end of his life, in the Land of Israel. He served as a M ...
, d. (Nevel, Russia; Tel Aviv, Israel) *
Menachem Mendel Futerfas Rabbi Menachem Mendel Futerfas (22 September 1907 – 2 July 1995) known informally as Reb Mendel, was a famous Chabad ''Mashpia'' and Chossid. He was a top student of the famed Mashpia, Reb Zalman Moishe HaYitzchaki. Activities Futerfas operate ...
, d. (Kfar Chabad, Israel) *
Yehuda Chitrik Rabbi Yehuda Chitrik (August 28, 1899 – February 14, 2006) was an author and ''Mashpia'' in the Chabad Hasidic community in Brooklyn, New York. Early life Yehuda Chitrik was born in 1899 in , a small Jewish shtetl in Russia, to a promi ...
, d. (Crown Heights, NY) *
Rabbi Yossi Paltiel A rabbi () is a spiritual leader or religious teacher in Judaism. One becomes a rabbi by being ordained by another rabbi – known as ''semikha'' – following a course of study of Jewish history and texts such as the Talmud. The basic form ...
, d. (Crown Heights, NY) *
Menachem Zeev Greenglass Menachem Zeev ("Wolf") Greenglass (1917 – 29 December 2010) was a Polish-Canadian rabbi associated with the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic movement.Nissan Neminov Nissen Nemanov (1904–1984), known familiarly as Reb Nissen, was a Belarusian Orthodox rabbi. He served as a Mashpia, Hasidic mentor, in the Yeshiva of Tomchei Temimim in Brunoy, near Paris, France. He taught many thousands of students ...
, d. (Brunoy, France) * Shlomo Chayim Kesselman, d. (Kfar Chabad, Israel) *
Yoel Kahn Reb Yoel Kahan (February 14, 1930 – July 15, 2021) was a senior Chabad rabbi, who served as the leading and for the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson. His position as leading and made him the default authority on the Rebb ...
(Chozer and Senior Mashpia, Central Yeshiva Tomchei Temimim Lubavitch, Brooklyn, NY) ;Present * Sholom Charitonow (Senior Mashpia, Oholei Torah Talmudical Seminary, Brooklyn, NY) * Shabsie Adler (Mashpia of Toronto, Ontario Canada)


References


External links


"Meet the new Admorim: the "Mashpi'im"
on the ''Bechadrei Chareidim'' site.

{{Jewish education Chabad terminology Orthodox rabbinic roles and titles Jewish religious occupations Chabad-Lubavitch (Hasidic dynasty) Hebrew words and phrases