In 'Fiddler on the Roof', what is the title that Tevye is using for himself if "Rich Man"?

Question

It sounds like "rev" or "rep."

Thanks.

Answer 1

It's "Reb"

http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/fiddlerontheroof/ifiwerearichman.htm

Marianne

Answer 2

Your confusion exists because the playwright made a concerted effort not to use any Hebrew or Yiddish words, but to translate everything into English. Sometimes this effort is more successful than others. So, when Tevye says "That Motel, he's a ... *person*!" the word intended is "mensch", which carries a much more complicated and nuanced meaning than "person", and the audience is supposed to recognize this. When Golde says "another blessing", the word really is "mitzvah", a Hebrew word which means "commandment" but which has also come to mean a good deed which we believe is approved of by G!d, because G!d commanded us to feed the hungry and clothe the needy. Etc. So when Perchik says "the Bible has many lessons for our time" he is referring to TaNaKh. This is the Hebrew acronym for Torah (the Five Books of Moses) Nevi'im (Prophets) K'tuvim (Writings, which are Psalms, Proverbs, Song of Songs, Lamentations, etc) Our TaNaKh is roughly equivalent to the Christian Old Testament, and in English is sometimes referred to as the Hebrew Bible. We read all of it, plus the 2500 accrued years of commentaries. So Tevye and his community are Jews. Just Jews. Today we would call them Orthodox, or Ultra-Orthodox (or "frum" or Haredi). So-called "Messianic Jews" are not Jews, they are Xtians in Jewish trappings. If Xtians want to adopt modern Jewish trappings in a misguided attempt to be like J*sus, of course they can, although it looks a bit silly to real Jews. However what they do is identity-theft, they pretend to be actual Jews which they are not. The theology of worshiping J*sus as a divine savior is entirely Xtian, and completely incompatible with Jewish belief. Every Jewish group in the world, and all the mainstream Xtian organizations, identify "Messianic Jews" and "Jews for Jesus" as Xtian. Real Jews tend to see them as frauds.

Answer 3

It is "Reb". It is used several times in the show referring to "Reb Lazar Wolf", "Reb Perchik", and others. While I am not sure of this, I am told that it means "brother", and is an honorific, like Mr. or Miss (although it only applies to men).

Answer 4

Reb Tevye - Yiddish term roughly equivilant to "Mister". See this link: http://www.jewfaq.org/rabbi.htm

Answer 5

Rebbe