Tish (Hasidic celebration)
A tish (Yiddish: טיש, pl. טישין, tishen, literally, "table"), also spelled tisch, is a gathering of Hasidim around their Rebbe. It may consist of speeches on Torah subjects, singing of melodies known as niggunim (singular niggun) and zemirot ("hymns"), with refreshments being served. Hasidim see it as a moment of great holiness. They are public events that are open to non-Hasidim as well.
Within Hasidic Judaism, a tish refers to any joyous public celebration or gathering or meal by Hasidim at a "table" of their Rebbe. Such a gathering is often referred to in Hebrew as Arichat HaShulchan (עריכת השולחן), the "setting of the table". The term "Shabbos tish" is also sometimes used in Yiddish regarding the Shabbat meal of any Jewish family.
During a tish, 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, or fruit, as well as small cups of kosher wine or other beverages, are distributed to all present as shirayim (שיריים). In such large courts, there are often bleachers, known as parentches (פארענטשעס) in Yiddish, for observers of the tish to stand on. In smaller courts there is usually more food available for observers to partake. Often, in both large and small tishen, 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.