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.^[1]

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.^[2]

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.^[3]

Notable Chabad mashpi'im

• Hillel HaLevi of Paritch
• Zalman Moishe HaYitzchaki
• Menachem Mendel Futerfas
• Yehuda Chitrik
• Menachem Zeev Greenglass
• Nissan Neminov
• Yoel Kahn^[4]

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". Archived from the original on 2013-04-15. Retrieved 2006-12-24.
4. Line, Chabad On (10 August 2017). ""Kevutza" Poses for Group Photo". collive. Retrieved 2018-12-27.