Chabad-Lubavitch




Chabad - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Chabad-Lubavitch (also Chabad, Habad or Lubavitch), is the third or fourth largest  Hasidic sect of Orthodox Judaism, based in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn. Chabad (חב"ד ) is a Hebrew acronym for Chochmah, Binah, Da'at, meaning Wisdom, Understanding, and Knowledge.[3] Lubavitch is the only extant branch of a family of Hasidic sects known collectively as the Chabad movement; as a result the words are now used interchangeably. 

The Lubavitch movement took its name from Lyubavichi, the Russian town that served as the movement's headquarters for over a century. In 1993 there were over 200,000 adherents to the movement.[4][5][6] Its adherents follow Chabad traditions and prayer services based heavily on the earlier Kabbalistic works of Rabbi Isaac Luria. Like all Hasidim, they follow the teachings of Chassidus as taught by Rabbi Israel ben Eliezer. Founded by Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi in the late 18th century, Chabad-Lubavitch has had seven leaders or rebbes. Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson succeeded his father-in-law, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Schneersohn in 1950, becoming the seventh leader of the movement, a position he held until his death in 1994.

Chabad today runs thousands of centers around the world called Chabad Houses. They are Jewish community centers, synagogues and schools, providing outreach and educational activities for Jewish communities.
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About Chabad-Lubavitch
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Chabad-Lubavitch is a philosophy, a movement, and an organization. It is considered to be the most dynamic force in Jewish life today.

Lubavitch appropriately means the "city of brotherly love"The word "Chabad" is a Hebrew acronym for the three intellectual faculties of: chachmah-wisdom, binah-comprehension and da'at-knowledge. The movement's system of Jewish religious philosophy, the deepest dimension of G-d's Torah, teaches understanding and recognition of the Creator, the role and purpose of Creation, and the importance and unique mission of each Creature. This philosophy guides a person to refine and govern his and her every act and feeling through wisdom, comprehension and knowledge.

The word "Lubavitch" is the name of the town in White Russia where the movement was based for more than a century. Appropriately, the word Lubavitch in Russian means the "city of brotherly love." The name Lubavitch conveys the essence of the responsibility and love engendered by the Chabad philosophy toward every single Jew.

The Movement

Following its inception 250 years ago, the Chabad-Lubavitch movement -- a branch of Hasidism -- swept through Russia and spread in surrounding countries as well. It provided scholars with answers that eluded them and simple farmers with a love that had been denied of them. Eventually the philosophy of Chabad-Lubavitch and its adherents reached almost every corner of the world and affected almost every facet of Jewish life.

Leadership:

No person or detail was too small or insignificant for their love and dedicationThe movement is guided by the teachings of its seven leaders ("Rebbes"), beginning with Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, of righteous memory (1745-1812). These leaders expounded upon the most refined and delicate aspects of Jewish mysticism, creating a corpus of study thousands of books strong. They personified the age-old, Biblical qualities of piety and leadership. And they concerned themselves not only with Chabad-Lubavitch, but with the totality of Jewish life, spiritual and physical. No person or detail was too small or insignificant for their love and dedication.

In our generation, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson of righteous memory (1902-1994), known simply as "the Rebbe," guided post-holocaust Jewry to safety from the ravages of that devastation.

The Organization

The origins of today's Chabad-Lubavitch organization can be traced to the early 1940's when the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn of righteous memory (1880-1950), appointed his son-in-law and later successor, Rabbi Menachem Mendel, to head the newly-founded educational and social service arms of the movement.

Today 4,000 full-time emissary families direct more than 3,300 institutions Motivated by his profound love for every Jew and spurred by his boundless optimism and self-sacrifice, the Rebbe set into motion a dazzling array of programs, services and institutions to serve every Jew.

Today 4,000 full-time emissary families apply 250 year-old principles and philosophy to direct more than 3,300 institutions (and a workforce that numbers in the tens of thousands) dedicated to the welfare of the Jewish people worldwide.
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