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I davened in a couple of different Chassidish shuls over the past few days, and in two different places (Tenka and Munkacs), I noticed that nearly all men who were called up for an aliya were addressed as what sounded like "moreinu" (or, in context "muraynee") and possibly even "moreinu harav," if I heard right. This included people who were definitely not the Rabbi of that shul.

  • Is it likely that I heard right?

  • If so, what is the meaning and basis of this practice? Why call everyone "our teacher"?

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Do you know if the people called up had smichah, even if they weren't rabbi of that shul? – b a Aug 21 '12 at 4:54
@ba, No, I don't. Unfortunately, I didn't take more detailed note of who got this title and who didn't. – Isaac Moses Aug 21 '12 at 5:10
I have heard of shuls who, in order not to embarrass anyone, call up everyone as "rav". Could this be a similar practice -- giving all kavod so as not to exclude anyone? – Dan Aug 21 '12 at 14:03
@Dan, I know some places call people up as HaChaver. My only issue with this, is that you then get people taking that title with them, like this past Shabbath, when someone visiting was given an 'Aliyah at my Shul, and he told the Gabbi his name was [Ploni] ben HaChaver Rav [Almoni]. – Seth J Aug 21 '12 at 15:23
@SethJ I know someone on whom the title HaChaver was conferred. Are you saying it's a problem when it's HaCh"R Rav? – Charles Koppelman Aug 21 '12 at 18:23
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