About Chabad-Lubavitch
"The Rebbe"
Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneersohn of righteous memory (1902-1994)
The Philosophy
Chabad-Lubavitch is a branch of Chassidism, and is a philosophy, a movement, and an organization. It is considered to be the most dynamic force in Jewish life today.
The word "Chabad"is a Hebrew acronym for the three intellectual faculties of: Chachmah-wisdom, Binah-comprehension and Da'at-knowledge. Chabad's 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 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, and appropriately is Russian for the "city of brotherly love." 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 swept through Russia and spread to surrounding countries. It served Jews from all walks of life; providing scholars with answers that eluded them and reaching simple farmers with a love that had been denied. The philosophy of Chabad-Lubavitch and its adherents reaches almost every corner of the world and impacts almost every facet of Jewish life.
The Leadership
Chabad Lubavitch is guided by the teachings of its seven leaders ("Rebbes"), beginning with Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Laidi of righteous memory (1745-1812). These holy men 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 concerned themselves with the totality of Jewish life, spiritual and physical. No person was too small or insignificant for their love and dedication.
The origins of today’s Chabad-Lubavitch can be traced to the early 1940’s, when the sixth Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn of righteous memory (1880-1950), appointed his son-in-law and later successor, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneersohn of righteous memory (1902-1994) to head the newly-founded educational and social service arms of the movement. Known simply as “The Rebbe,” he guided post-Holocaust Jewry to safety from the ravages of that cataclysm.
The Organization
Motivated by the Rebbe’s profound love for every Jew, and his boundless optimism and self-sacrifice, a dazzling array of programs, services, and institutions was set in motion. For certain, non-Jews are welcome and encouraged to join Chabad’s activities, especially to gain a better understanding of Judaism.
Today, almost 6,000 full-time emissary families apply 250-year-old principles and philosophy, directing more than 3,500 institutions in all 50 states and over 100 countries worldwide. Chabad-Lubavitch has a workforce in the tens of thousands – all dedicated to the welfare of Jewish people worldwide.