# Difference between a rabbi and a rebbe?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-a-rabbi-and-a-rebbe/212283>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 9, 2003, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-a-rabbi-and-a-rebbe/212283 "2003-11-09T21:02:04Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\
**Post date:** [November 9, 2003, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-a-rabbi-and-a-rebbe/212283/1 "2003-11-09T21:02:04Z")

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The Subject: line is the question. I’ve heard Jewish clergy, for lack of a better word, referred to as both rabbis and rebbes. The only difference I’ve seen is that those identified as rebbes are always elderly, and always have beards; Orthodox or Hasidim, perhaps.

So … is there a difference between a rabbi and a rebbe?

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**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\
**Post date:** [November 9, 2003, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-a-rabbi-and-a-rebbe/212283/2 "2003-11-09T21:14:31Z")

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Rebbe is just a Yiddish version of the word “Rabbi”. The Hasidim use it to refer to their Rabbis. Also, don’t confuse Rebbe with Reb, which is a Yiddish title of respect.

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**Author:** ![GilaB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@GilaB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GilaB)\
**Post date:** [November 9, 2003, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-a-rabbi-and-a-rebbe/212283/3 "2003-11-09T22:23:10Z")

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Even in the non-Hasidic Orthodox world, “Rebbe” is sometimes used in place of “teacher” in the case of a Rabbi who primarily works in a school rather than in a community setting. (This usage is mostly for teachers of Talmud.) But you’re most likely to have heard the term in the sense that **Captain Amazing** uses it, as the chief rabbi of a Hasidic sect.