Mashpia

Mashpia (Hebrew: משפיע) or feminine Mashpi'oh lit. "person of influence", pl. Mashpi'im (Hebrew: משפיעים) is the title of a rabbi who serves as a spiritual mentor in a Hasidic Jewish yeshiva.

This title is also used in Breslov Hasidic movements, who have no rebbe. Previously, those holding this position were referred to as "community rabbis".[citation needed]

The related Hebrew word "mashpian" refers to an "influencer" such as a celebrity or social media promoter.

Mashpi'im in Chabad

Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, the first rebbe of Chabad-Lubavitch, discussed the role of mashpi'im in the preface to the Tanya, his book on Hasidic philosophy.

References

  1. ↑ https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/1280337/jewish/The-Rabbi-and-the-Thief.htm: "He was later... head mashpia (spiritual mentor) in the Lubavitcher yeshivah of Kfar Chabad"
  2. ↑ Pink, E., High Influence in JLife Leeds magazine, June/July 2024, p. 83, accessed on 5 July 2024
  3. ↑ "Essays: Provide Yourself a Teacher". Retrieved 2006-12-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)