Tish (Hasidic Celebration)

A Tish, also ''tische'' (, ) is a Shabbat or holiday gathering for Hasidic Jews around their Rabbi or " Rebbe". In Chabad, a tische is called (). It may consist of speeches on Torah subjects, singing of melodies known as (singular ) and ("hymns"), with refreshments being served. Hasidim see it as a moment of great holiness.

Within Hasidic Judaism, a refers to any joyous public celebration or gathering or meal by Hasidim at a "table" of their Rebbe. Such a gathering is staged around the blessing of Melchizedek-themed "setting of the table" and so is often referred to in Hebrew as (). Bread and wine are essential elements.

Overview

During a ''tische'', the Rebbe sits at the head of the table and the Hasidim gather around the table. In large Hasidic movements, only the Rebbe and his immediate family, plus a few close disciples, partake of the actual meal, but small pieces of bread, fish, meat, poultry, farfel, beans, kugel, cake or fruit, as well as small cups of wine or other beverages, are distributed to all present as ''shirayim'' (, lit., remnants). In such large courts, there are often bleachers, known as ''parentches'' () in Yiddish, for observers of the ''tische'' to stand on. In smaller courts there is usually more food available for observers to partake. Often, in both large and small ''tischen'', the Rebbe will personally distribute '' shirayim'' food to individuals. Hasidim believe that the Rebbe will have a personal blessing for each person who partakes of the food he gives them.

In some Hasidic movements, the Rebbe only eats his Shabbat meals at the ''tische'', often waiting many hours until the Hasidim have finished their meals to begin his meal with the recitation of the '' Kiddush'' prayer. In other courts, the Rebbe begins his meal at home with his family, and then comes to join the Hasidim in the synagogue towards the end the meal. In yet other courts, the entire ''tische'' is conducted after the meal has been finished at home. In such a case only dessert, usually consisting of kugel and fruit, is served, as well as soft drinks, usually seltzer-water. Such tisches are known as a ''Peiros Tische'' () ("Fruit Tische").

The nature of the ''tische'' differs from group to group but during the ''tische'', the Hasidim intently and silently watch the rebbe eating the meal and are extremely eager to receive ''shirayim'' ("leftovers"), cooked alongside the Rebbe's courses, believing it to be a great merit (''zechus'') to eat something from the leftovers of a tzadik's meal. Many Hasidim claim that miracles can take place in merit of partaking of the ''shirayim'', such as miraculous healing or blessings of wealth or piety.

Hasidic songs, or '' niggunim'', are sung with great gusto. The songs may at times be either joyous or solemnly meditative. The rebbe may teach words of Torah, often mystical passages from the Midrash, Zohar, and the Kabbalah during the ''tische''. He may also tell Hasidic stories, parables, and history. He may also give religious commentary on current events and politics.

Women do not sit with the men (because some communities of Orthodox Jews, especially Hasidim, are very strict about the gender separation) but they are often present to observe the ''tische'' from the ''ezras noshim'' ("women's section") in the main synagogue or hall where it is taking place. The women present do not sing aloud, and they generally do not receive the ''shirayim'', although sometimes they do.

A ''tische'' can vary in size from a handful to thousands of people. Large ''tischen'' are usually held in special rooms in the main building of a Hasidic movement. Sometimes they are held in the main synagogue. Around the holidays, when thousands of Hasidim who live in other cities or countries come to pray and visit with their Rebbe joining the Hasidim who live near the Rebbe and things can get very crowded, they are sometimes held in a large temporary structure. Small tischen are often conducted in private homes, particularly when a Hasidic Rebbe is visiting another community. As public events, non-Hasidic Jews and Hasidim of one rebbe may also visit the ''tische'' of another Rebbe. Non-Jews sometimes visit a tische as well, particularly dignitaries and politicians, during a weekday tish such as on ''Chol HaMoed''.

Occasions

A ''tische'' takes place at the meals in honor of the Shabbat, Jewish holidays, yahrzeit ("annual memorial") for previous rebbes of that dynasty, as a ''seudas hoda'ah'' (meal of thanksgiving) to God for past salvations (such as escape from prisons or from the Holocaust), or some other seudas mitzvah.

Some Hasidic movements hold a ''tische'' every Shabbat; others do so only on Jewish holidays. The time at which a ''tische'' can be held also differs. For example, Belzer Hasidim conduct their ''tische'' both late Friday night and on Saturday afternoon for Seudah Shlishit, while Gerrer Hasidim only have their ''tische'' on Saturday afternoon or early evening for Seudah Shlishit.

A ''tische'' is usually also held on minor holidays such as Lag BaOmer, Hanukkah, Purim, Tu Bishvat, on the minor days ('' Chol Hamoed'') of major festivals Sukkos and Pesach, and before and after the fast of Yom Kippur.

Related affairs

Botteh

Sometimes, a Hasidic gathering similar to a ''tische'' is conducted without the presence of a Rebbe. This is called a ''botteh'' () in Yiddish or a ''shevet achim'' () in Hebrew. It is often led by a Rabbi who is not a Rebbe, such as a '' Rosh Yeshivah'', '' Mashgiach Ruchani'', or a Rebbe's son. Often, a ''botteh'' will be indistinguishable from a tische, for the respect that many Hasidim have for their Rebbe's son is often very close to the reverence for the Rebbe himself, as he is the assumed heir to the throne.

''Farbrengen''

Among Lubavitcher Hasidim, a gathering known as a '' farbrengen'' () is celebrated, similar to a ''tish''. A ''farbrengen'' may be conducted with or without the presence of a Rebbe, and even with the presence of only a few Hasidim. At a ''farbrengen'', '' zemiros'' are generally not sung (with the exception of the ''zemiros'' of the Arizal for each Sabbath meal), but rather only '' niggunim''.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tish (Hasidic Celebration)
Hasidic Judaism
Shabbat
Yiddish words and phrases
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