maspia? | Imamother

catonmylap

Wed, Aug 29 2007, 5:08 am

I keep seeing things on here "ask your Rav or Maspia?" Who has a maspia?

Please explain to me who/what a maspia does? It's a woman, right? Does she know she's your maspia? Do other people have her too? What is your relationship with her/her position in the community etc? What kind of questions can you ask her? Did she have any formal training to get "this position"?

And to what branch of Orthodox Judaism is it typical to have a maspia?

amother

Wed, Aug 29 2007, 5:16 am

It's "mashpia" -- comes from the Hebrew word "hashpa," meaning influence. So mashpia would be best translated as influencer, or, in English, we would say mentor.

Lot's of people throw this word around quite flippantly as anyone one might consider a mentor-- no, it doesn't even have to be a woman-- it could be a Rav too.

The Lubaitcher Rebbe has strongly emphasized that everyone should have a mashpia, and in this case, yes, a man for a man, and a woman for a woman.

The Gemarra discusses the official relationship of mashpia/mushpa at length-- and in the official context, yes, the person must formally ask the mashpia to enter into this relationship-- so, in this case, the mashpia is aware of their status as a mentor.

What do they have to do to become the mashpia? This is an entirely different question. Someone seeks a mashpia who is usually a few years older, who they look up to, and who they think may be able to offer some advice/guidance.

The Lubavitcher Rebbe emphasizes though, that one needn't seek someone who is on a higher madreiga than they-- obviously most people do-- but everyone needs a mashpia-- even the highest Rav-- so it doesn't always have to be someone higher, just someone you look up to and someone you think would be able to listen etc.

BTW: The gemarra compares the mashpia/mushpa relationship to a cow and calf-- it says that the cow has an infinite supply of milk and the calf can only drink as much as he can--- so a mashpia can always help more, but it depends how much the mushpa wants to confide in him etc.

Oh, and one is supposed to be "spiritually naked" in front of their mashpia.

Lechatchila Ariber

Wed, Aug 29 2007, 5:17 am

a mashpia is a spiritual mentor, Someone you go to for advice on spritual matters and matters of growth and someone who you will have to be accountable to (did I say that right?)
Yes she knows she is a mashpia and is asked to be one, (although people have been known to look up to someone as a mashpia without officially asking them.)
In Chabad its greatly encouraged after a directive and request by the Rebbe some years ago of his chassidim to all have mashpim.
Its also encouraged to make it official, as in to ask someone to be your mashpia and to take their advice seriously and not lightly.