Hasidic dynasty
Encyclopedia
A Hasidic dynasty is a dynasty
of Hasidic spiritual leaders known as rebbe
s, and usually has some or all of the following characteristics:
Dynasty
A dynasty is a sequence of rulers considered members of the same family. Historians traditionally consider many sovereign states' history within a framework of successive dynasties, e.g., China, Ancient Egypt and the Persian Empire...
of Hasidic spiritual leaders known as rebbe
Rebbe
Rebbe , which means master, teacher, or mentor, is a Yiddish word derived from the Hebrew word Rabbi. It often refers to the leader of a Hasidic Jewish movement...
s, and usually has some or all of the following characteristics:
- Each member of the dynasty is a spiritual leader, often known as an ADMOR (abbreviation for ADoneinu MOreinu Rabeinu - "our master, our teacher and our rabbi") or simply as RebbeRebbeRebbe , which means master, teacher, or mentor, is a Yiddish word derived from the Hebrew word Rabbi. It often refers to the leader of a Hasidic Jewish movement...
(or "the Rebbe") and at times called the "Ruv" ("the rabbi") and sometimes referred to in English as a "Grand Rabbi"; - It continues beyond the initial leader's lifetime by succession (usually by a family descendant);
- It is usually named after a key town in Eastern Europe where the founder may have been born or lived, or where the group began to grow and flourish;
- It has (or once had) followers who, through time, continue following successive leaders (rebbes) or may even continue as a group without one leader by following the precepts of a deceased leader.