Rebbetzin Totally Explained

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Rebbitzin (רביצין in Yiddish, or Rabbanit in Hebrew) is the title used for the wife of a rabbi, typically from the Orthodox, or Haredi, and Hasidic movements. It shouldn't be confused with the title of "Rebbe" which is used by Hasidic rabbinical leaders.
   Sometimes, Rebbitzin is abbreviated as Reb. (usually with a period, for example full stop, at the end of it), but it shouldn't be confused with the Hebrew and Yiddish "title" of Reb which may be a shortened form for Rebbe or simply a simple title of honor for any Jewish male, almost like "Sir". Rebbitzin can also be used as an informal title for Mrs. even if she isn't the wife an ordained rabbi or scholar.
   In many Chassidic Courts, Rebbitzins are considered to be spiritual counselors, and give blessings. in Circles such as the chassidic dynasty of Belz, the girls schools are run by the rebbitzin. There are also several recorded instanced of female rebbes, who while technically rebbitzins, were full-fledges Rebbes in their own right. One such famous case is the Maiden of Ludmir.
   Although there's no formal induction into being a rabbi's wife any more than being any other wife, the rabbi's wife takes on a role in a community that may have been the source of the distinctive title. This is more so both in smaller communities, as well as less knowledgeable congregations. In many ways, she's called on to be as knowledgeable as the rabbi in the realm of woman's observances: in this manner, for something that doesn't require a psak (ruling), she can be approached when a woman doesn't feel comfortable approaching the rabbi, or where the rabbi maybe shouldn't be approached. For instance, the rebbitzin may often be the "mikvah lady" and help with more mundane questions regarding the laws of niddah. Part of it, certainly, is that she always has the rabbi's ear, and that she'd know if the question needs to be asked, in order to get a psak.
   When a rabbi is a "pulpit rabbi," (versus a teacher or a "lay rabbi") his wife becomes something of a first lady of the community, and a rebbitzin is usually tasked with many social aspects. The rabbi, often being the spiritual and actual leader of a community, must be hospitable, must attend to shalom bayit as it applies to the politics of the congregation, and must be gracious. The rebbitzin would normally fulfill these "outreach" sort of roles, while he attended to more scholarly and prestigious aspects of his position.
   The term "Rabbanit" has, in very recent times, been offered as the title for women "Rabbis" in the Orthodox community. Although most in the Orthodox community don't currently recognize the legitimacy of female Rabbis, recently some more liberal elements support the concept. Female Rabbis in the Conservative and Reform movements maintain the title of "Rabbi." Other feminine terms such as "Morati" were initially suggested, but "Rabbanit," first coined by Bat Sheva Marcus at the 1997 conference on Feminism and Orthodoxy in New York, is currently the preferred term.
   There are rabbis who are married to other rabbis in Reform and Conservative Jewish communities, who generally go by the title "Rabbi", although the female ones are also technically rebbitzins in addition to being rabbis. Such marriages are sometimes known as "rabbinic couples".

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