About Chabad-Lubavitch

The Philosophy

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.