Holy Rebbes

-->

 My husband and boys are heading across town this Shabbos (Sabbath) to see the Bostoner Rebbe. I am staying back with our dog. Now don’t go getting your feminist feathers all ruffled. Even though that might come off as a bit ‘third world’, it is my choice. You see we are going to a bar mitzvah soon after and I wasn’t up for multiple Shabboses away in a row. Anyway, although I can appreciate the experience, and may have gone otherwise, it is still foreign to me and a lot of things go on that I just don’t understand. It is sort of like a religious men’s club brew ha ha. In addition, each rebbe seems to travel with an entourage and have certain “requirements” (what he can eat, when he eats, what he drinks)….they all seem a bit “tipsy”… I suppose they need a little “boost” to get “connected”).

Anyway, the rebbe holds a “tish” (literally means ‘table’, but its like a sing a long late Friday night). It’s sort of like a bunch of guys watching the football game with beer, except there’s no game and no beer. There is Torah and schnapps, singing and dancing.  Instead of passing the bowl of popcorn around, for example, they might pass the rebbe’s challah or soup around (that right there would keep me away). It seems like anything the rebbe touches can be holy. I have a friend who puts a “special liquid” in her Kiddush wine that a rebbe gave her. To this day, I wonder what is in that liquid. I dare not to think. At any rate, should you ever get to attend a tish, go! There are great discussions and it can be a spiritual lift (if you can understand the rebbe as not all of them speak in English).

The other day my boys were asking my husband about all the different rebbes as they are quite fascinated with them (I tend to get them all confused myself) and he began to list them all off. I was actually surprised by how many there are and how many my husband knew. I mean I’ve been living with the man for 25 years! . Just to name a few….there’s the

Slonimer Rebbe

Koidenover Rebbe

Bobover Rebbe

Skverer Rebbe

Kaalover Rebbe

Belzer Rebbe

Boyaner Rebbe

Munkatcher Rebbe

Ger Rebbe

Viznitzer Rebbe

Skulener Rebbe

Bostoner Rebbe

Rimanover Rebbe

Nikolsburger Rebbe

Satmar Rebbe

Burshtein Rebbe

And many more….

They get their names from the towns in which they originated (not the most creative bunch but then again they don’t have to worry about  trademark infringement. I’m not sure what happens though if 2 pop up out of the same town). Anyway, my husband began to explain how when he was in NY, he saw the Munkatcher Rebbe walking down the street one night and how his face was all aglow. He described it as just being so bright. Well, I thought that was pretty cool (really seeing someone whose face lights up) and so I said, “Well isn’t that how he got his name, the Moon Catcher?” My husband and kids nearly fell out of their chairs with hysterical laughter. Sad thing was, I wasn’t even trying to be funny. And that in a nutshell clearly explains why I am not going to be “tishing” with the rebbe. With that said, their blessings can be powerful. So should you have the opportunity to see or visit a rebbe, don’t pass it up! Don’t worry, I’m going to get my chance before the weekend is over!