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Rebbitzin (Yiddish: רביצין) or Rabbanit (Hebrew: רַבָּנִית) is the title used for the wife of a rabbi, typically from the Orthodox, or Haredi, and Hasidic Jewish groups. It should not be confused with the title of "Rebbe" which is used by Hasidic rabbinical leaders. With the growth of independent scholarship among Orthodox women, some women have informally received the title on their own merit, irrespective of their husbands.[1]
Sometimes, Rebbitzin is abbreviated as Reb. (usually with a period, i.e. full stop, at the end of it), but it should not be confused with the Hebrew and Yiddish "title" of Reb which may be a shortened form for Rebbe or simply a simple title of honor for any Jewish male, almost like "Sir". Rebbitzin can also be used as an informal title for Mrs. even if she is not the wife an ordained rabbi or scholar. The Yiddish word has a convoluted etymology: Hebrew rebbə "master", plus the Slavic feminine suffix -itsa and the German feminine suffix -in.
In many Chassidic courts, Rebbitzins are considered to be spiritual counselors, and give blessings. In circles such as the Chassidic dynasty of Belz, the girls schools are run by the rebbitzin. There are also several recorded instanced of female rebbes, who while technically rebbitzins, were full-fledges rebbes in their own right. One such famous case is the Maiden of Ludmir.
Although there is no formal induction into being a rabbi's wife any more than being any other wife, the rabbi's wife takes on a role in a community that may have been the source of the distinctive title. This is more so both in smaller communities, as well as less knowledgeable congregations. In many ways, she is called on to be as knowledgeable as the rabbi in the realm of woman's observances: in this manner, for something that does not require a psak (ruling), she can be approached when a woman does not feel comfortable approaching the rabbi, or where the rabbi maybe should not be approached. For instance, the rebbitzin may often be the "mikvah lady" and help with more mundane questions regarding the laws of niddah. Part of it, certainly, is that she always has the rabbi's ear, and that she would know if the question needs to be asked, in order to get a psak.
When a rabbi is a "pulpit rabbi," (versus a teacher or a "lay rabbi") his wife becomes something of a first lady of the community, and a rebbitzin is usually tasked with many social aspects. The rabbi, often being the spiritual and actual leader of a community, must be hospitable, must attend to shalom bayit as it applies to the politics of the congregation, and must be gracious. The rebbitzin would normally fulfill these "outreach" sort of roles, while he attended to more scholarly and prestigious aspects of his position.
The term "Rabbanit" has, in very recent times, been offered as the title for women "Rabbis" in the Orthodox community. Although most in the Orthodox community do not currently recognize the legitimacy of female Rabbis, recently some more liberal elements support the concept.[dubious ]Female Rabbis in the Conservative and Reform movements maintain the title of "Rabbi." Other feminine terms such as "Morati" were initially suggested, but "Rabbanit," first coined by Bat Sheva Marcus at the 1997 conference on Feminism and Orthodoxy in New York, is currently the preferred term. In Israel some women rabbis use the term "Raba" (רבה) - an alternate female form of "Rabbi".
There are rabbis who are married to other rabbis in Reform and Conservative Jewish communities, who generally go by the title "Rabbi", although the female ones are also technically rebbitzins in addition to being rabbis, a fact which somewhat undermines the equality that Reform and Conservative movements seek. Such marriages are sometimes known as "rabbinic couples".
Contents |
See also
- Bais Yaakov (schools for Haredi girls)
- Balabusta (Jewish homemaker)
- Jewish view of marriage
- Negiah (guidelines for physical contact)
- Niddah (menstruation laws)
- Role of women in Judaism
- Shalom bayit (peace and harmony in the relationship between husband and wife)
- Shidduch (finding a marriage partner)
- Tzniut (modest behavior)
- Yichud (prohibitions of secluding oneself with a stranger)
References
- ^ See, for exampleRebbetzin Pavlov, Rebbetzin Heller, et al.
External links
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