Is there any difference between a rebbe and a rabbi?

Sofie

Rebbe which means master, teacher, or mentor is a Yiddish word derived from the identical Hebrew word "øáé". It mostly refers to the leader of a Hasidic Jewish movement. Rabbi, in Judaism, means "teacher", or more literally "great one". The word "Rabbi" is derived from the Hebrew root word øÇá, rav, which in biblical Hebrew means "great" or "distinguished (in knowledge)". The Hebrew letters for rebbe, resh-bet-yud, according to some interpretations, form an acronym for "rosh bnei yisroel", meaning "the spiritual head of the Children of Israel". More than just a rabbi, a rebbe by definition needs to be a Tzaddik. Tzadik - öãé÷ (plural: Tzadikkim) is the Hebrew word for "righteous one", and is a title which is generally given to those whom are considered to be righteous such as a spiritual master or Rebbe. The root of the word Tzadik, is Tzedek (öã÷), which means justice or righteousness. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tzaddik Mar 08 07, 5:47 AM

Flem-ish

Thank you. Mar 08 07, 8:41 AM

What-A-Mess

To further the statement....The two terms are often used in place of each other in common speak. There may be a real difference in their meanings but due to lack of knowledge they have become synonymous. Mar 08 07, 10:38 AM