Chabad facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Chabad

חב״ד
Group picture of Chabad Shluchim (emissaries) in Crown Heights, Brooklyn
Formation	1775 (250 years ago) (1775)
Founder	Schneur Zalman of Liadi
Founded at	Liozno, Russian Empire
Type	Jewish religious movement Religious organization
Purpose	educational, philanthropic, religious studies, spirituality
Headquarters	770 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.
Region served	Worldwide
Membership (2018)	90,000–95,000
Key people	Menachem Mendel Schneerson
Secessions	Strashelye, Kopust, Liadi, Niezhin, Avrutch, Malachim
Affiliations	Hasidic Judaism

Chabad, also known as Lubavitch, is a well-known Orthodox Jewish movement. It is one of the largest Jewish religious groups in the world. Unlike many other similar groups, Chabad works to connect with all kinds of Jewish people, including those who are not very religious.

The movement started in 1775 by Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi. The name "Chabad" comes from three Hebrew words: Chokhmah, Binah, and Da'at. These words mean "Wisdom, Understanding, and Knowledge." They show that the movement focuses on using your mind to understand Jewish teachings. The name "Lubavitch" comes from the town where the main leaders lived for over 100 years.

In the 1930s, the sixth leader, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, moved the center of Chabad from Russia to Poland. Later, during World War II, he moved it to the United States.

Between 1951 and 1994, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson helped Chabad grow into one of the most widespread Jewish movements. Under his leadership, Chabad created many centers around the world. These centers help Jewish people with their religious, social, and humanitarian needs. They offer help to Jews who are not very religious and provide educational activities.

Today, Chabad has about 90,000–95,000 followers. However, up to one million Jewish people attend Chabad events at least once a year. A 2020 study found that 16% of American Jews take part in Chabad activities regularly.

Chabad's Journey Through History

The Chabad movement began in 1775 in a town called Liozno, which is now in Belarus. It was founded by Shneur Zalman of Liadi, who was a student of a very important Hasidic leader. In 1813, the second leader, Rabbi Dovber Shneuri, moved the movement to a town called Lyubavichi in Russia.

Chabad stayed in Lyubavichi for about 100 years. Then, in 1915, the fifth leader, Rabbi Shalom Dovber, moved to Rostov-on-Don. Later, because of difficult times in Russia, the sixth leader, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak, moved the center to Riga, then Warsaw.

When World War II started, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak moved to the United States. Since 1940, the main center of Chabad has been in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York.

Chabad-Lubavitch is the only branch of the original Chabad movement that is still active today. Historians say that Chabad has grown faster than almost any other Jewish religious movement between 1946 and 2015.

Facing Challenges in Russia

The Chabad movement faced many challenges in Russia. The government, first under the Czar and later under the Bolsheviks, put almost all of the Chabad leaders in prison. Many Chabad followers were also imprisoned, sent away, or even executed.

During World War II, many Chabad followers moved to cities in Uzbekistan. There, they created small Jewish communities while trying to leave Soviet Russia. Even after the main Chabad center moved to the United States, the movement stayed active in Soviet Russia. They secretly helped local Jews who wanted to learn more about Judaism.

After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the government stopped persecuting Chabad. Today, the Chief Rabbi of Russia, Berel Lazar, who is a Chabad emissary, has good relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Who Leads Chabad?

The Chabad movement has been led by a series of seven special leaders called rebbes. Here are the main leaders of the Chabad-Lubavitch branch:

• Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi (1745–1812): He founded the Chabad movement. He taught that Hasidic ideas could be understood using logic and reason. His most important book is the Tanya, which is studied daily by Chabad followers. He is often called the "Old Rebbe."

• Rabbi Dovber Schneuri (1773–1827): He was Rabbi Shneur Zalman's son and led the movement from Lyubavichi. He wrote many books that expanded on his father's teachings. He is known as the "Middle Rebbe."

• Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneersohn (1789–1866): He was Rabbi Shneur Zalman's grandson. He also led the movement from Lyubavichi and wrote many works on Jewish law and Hasidic thought. He is often called the Tzemach Tzedek.

• Rabbi Shmuel Schneersohn (1834–1882): He was the youngest son of Rabbi Menachem Mendel. He became the rebbe in Lyubavichi. His teachings were published after his death. He is known as the Maharash.

• Rabbi Shalom Dovber Schneersohn (1860–1920): He was Rabbi Shmuel's son and became the next rebbe. He started a famous Jewish school called Tomchei Temimim. He is often called the Rashab.

• Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn (1880–1950): He was Rabbi Sholom Dovber's son. He was exiled from Russia and led the movement from Poland, then the United States. He created much of Chabad's current organization. He is known as the "Previous Rebbe."

• Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson (1902–1994): He was Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak's son-in-law. He greatly expanded Chabad's global network, opening hundreds of new centers worldwide. He published many of his own works and those of earlier rebbes. He is often called "the Lubavitcher Rebbe" or simply "the Rebbe." Even after his passing, many still see him as the leader of the Chabad movement.

Chabad's Impact on Jewish Life

Chabad has had a big impact on Jewish people around the world since World War II. Chabad was a leader in the movement to help Jewish people who had lost touch with their traditions reconnect with Judaism. This led many people to return to a more religious Jewish life.

It's believed that up to a million Jewish people attend Chabad services or activities at least once a year. Chabad's ideas have also influenced how other Jewish groups reach out to their communities. Because Chabad welcomes all Jews, even those who are not very religious, many American Jews feel a strong connection to the group.

Chabad's Core Beliefs

Chabad Hasidic philosophy focuses on deep ideas about God, the soul, and the meaning of Jewish commandments. Chabad writings often refer to classic Jewish texts and Jewish mysticism, especially the Kabbalah. These texts help explain Chabad's teachings. Many of these teachings are about bringing "heaven down to earth," meaning making the world a place where God's presence is felt.

Chabad philosophy is based on the teachings of the founders of Hasidism. The teachings of Shneur Zalman of Liadi, especially in his book the Tanya, form the foundation of Chabad's ideas. Many of Chabad's activities today are based on his teachings.

What is the Tanya?

The Tanya is a very important book written by Rabbi Shneur Zalman. It was first published in 1797. It is the first book to clearly explain Hasidic moral philosophy and its deep spiritual ideas.

According to the Tanya, our minds have three connected parts: Chochma (wisdom), Bina (understanding), and Da'at (knowledge). While other Hasidic groups focused mainly on emotions, Shneur Zalman taught that God also wants us to use our minds. He believed that understanding is the "mother of fear and love for God." This means that using our minds helps us feel closer to God.

The Tanya has five sections. The first section, called "Book of the Intermediates," talks about the inner struggle we all have between our good and bad inclinations. It teaches that humans are not born evil, but rather have an ongoing inner conflict.

Chabad often explains how its philosophy is different from other Hasidic groups. While all Hasidic groups value emotions, Chabad teaches that our emotions should be guided by our minds. So, Chabad focuses a lot on studying the Torah and prayer. Rabbi Shneur Zalman wanted to explain Jewish mysticism and Hasidism in a logical way. In the Tanya, he describes his approach as "the brain ruling the heart."

Chabad Communities Around the World

Someone who follows Chabad is called a Chabad Chasid or a Lubavitcher. Chabad followers include both Hasidic people and others who join Chabad synagogues and centers.

Even though Chabad started in Eastern Europe, there are Chabad communities all over the world. Major communities are in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, and Kfar Chabad, Israel. In recent years, many Sephardic Jews have joined the movement. Some Chabad communities now include both Ashkenazi and Sephardic Jews.

Chabad is unique among Orthodox Jewish groups. This is because it welcomes all Jews, even those who are not Orthodox. Chabad emissaries work openly with non-Orthodox Jews.

How Many People are in Chabad?

In 2018, a study estimated that Chabad includes about 16,000–17,000 households, which means 90,000–95,000 people. This makes Chabad the second-largest Hasidic community in the world.

Chabad in the United States

In the United States, Chabad has about 4,000 households, with 22,000 to 25,000 people. Chabad is growing at about 3.6% each year.

• Crown Heights, Brooklyn: This is a large Chabad community with an estimated 10,000 to 16,000 people. Many people in this community speak Yiddish, Hebrew, or Russian. The Crown Heights Chabad community has its own rabbinical court and community council.

• Chabad Hipsters: In recent years, some Chabad followers in New York City have adopted parts of the "hipster" subculture. These members are sometimes called "Chabad hipsters."

Chabad in Israel

• Kfar Chabad: This town in Israel has about 5,100 to 7,000 residents, all of whom are Chabad followers.

• Safed: The Chabad community in Safed (Tzfat) has a long history. Chabad members in Safed do many outreach activities during Jewish holidays. For example, they blow the shofar for the elderly on Rosh Hashana and set up a Sukka on the main street during the Sukkot holiday.

Chabad in Other Countries

• France: The Chabad community in France is estimated to be between 10,000 and 15,000 people. Many are descendants of immigrants from North Africa.

• Canada: The Chabad community in Greater Montreal has about 1,590 people. Chabad has been present in Canada since the early 1900s.

• United Arab Emirates: In Dubai, there is a Jewish Community Center with a synagogue. They provide kosher food to the community.

Chabad Traditions and Special Days

Chabad followers have their own traditions and prayer services based on Jewish mystical teachings. Some of the main Chabad customs are small practices during traditional Jewish holidays:

• Passover: On Passover, Chabad communities usually avoid letting matzah (unleavened bread) touch water. This custom is called gebrokts. However, on the last day of Passover, they intentionally let matzah touch water.

• Chanukah: Chabad followers place the Chanukah menorah against the room's doorpost, not on the windowsill.

• Prayer: The founder of Chabad created a special prayer book for daily and holiday prayers.

• Jewish Law: The founder of Chabad also made other important decisions about Jewish law, such as using stainless steel knives for slaughtering animals. These practices are now accepted by all Jewish groups.

Special Chabad Holidays

Chabad marks several days as special holidays. These include the dates when their leaders were released from prison, their birthdays, and the anniversaries of their passing.

• Days of Liberation: These days celebrate when Chabad leaders were freed from prison. The most important one is Yud Tes Kislev, which marks the release of Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi. This day is also called the "New Year of Hasidism."

• Birthdays: The birthdays of several leaders are celebrated each year. These include Chai Elul (Rabbi Shneur Zalman's birthday) and Yud Aleph Nissan (Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson's birthday).

• Anniversaries of Passing: The anniversaries of the passing of several leaders are also observed. These include Yud Shvat (Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn's yartzeit) and Gimmel Tammuz (Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson's yartzeit).

How Chabad is Organized

Chabad has a central organization called Agudas Chasidei Chabad. Its educational and social service branches, Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch and Machneh Israel, are also important. The Chabad-Lubavitch publishing house is called Kehot Publication Society.

Local Chabad centers usually raise their own money and are separate legal groups.

Chabad Centers Worldwide

As of 2020, there are over 3,500 Chabad centers in 100 countries. Chabad's online directory lists about 1,350 Chabad institutions, including schools. Most centers are in the United States and Israel. Chabad has a presence in 950 cities around the world.

Geographic location	Chabad institutions
North America	2,894
Europe	1,133
Asia	615
South America	208
Oceania	67
Africa	55
Total	4,972

What is a Chabad House?

A Chabad house is a type of Jewish community center. It is used for education and religious activities. Often, when a community is just starting, the Chabad house is in the shaliach (emissary)'s home. The living room might be used as a synagogue. Chabad houses try to create a welcoming atmosphere for everyone, especially those who are not very familiar with Jewish practices.

Chabad followers can be seen at tefilin booths at the Western Wall and airports. They also give out Shabbat candles on Fridays. Chabad rabbis and their families are sent to cities worldwide to teach students, build schools, and create youth camps. Many of these efforts are for Jewish people who are not very religious.

Unmarried rabbinical students also spend weeks in the summer visiting places without a permanent Chabad presence. They make house calls, put up mezuzot, and teach about Judaism. This is called Merkos Shlichus.

Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson also started a Jewish children's movement called Tzivos Hashem ("Army of God"). This group encourages children to study Torah and follow mitzvot (commandments).

Chabad has also used modern technology for outreach. Mitzva tanks are mobile centers that travel around cities. The Chabad website, chabad.org, was one of the first Jewish websites and is now a very large online Jewish community.

In 1994, Rabbi Schneerson passed away without a successor. Since then, over two thousand couples have become Chabad leaders, bringing the total number of "Shluchim" to over five thousand worldwide.

In 2008, the Chabad house in Mumbai, India, was attacked by terrorists. The local Chabad emissaries, Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and his wife Rivka, and four other Jews were tragically killed.

How Chabad Centers Get Money

Chabad centers get their money from the local community. They do not receive funding from Chabad headquarters. Local emissaries raise all the money themselves for daily operations. They often ask for support from local Jewish people. The money is used to buy or fix up Chabad centers, synagogues, and mikvahs (ritual baths).

Chabad's Activities

The Chabad movement is involved in many activities in Jewish life today. These include providing Jewish education, reaching out to non-religious Jews, publishing Jewish books, and running summer camps for children.

Education

Chabad runs many educational institutions:

• Day Schools: In the United States, Chabad runs almost 300 day schools and extra schools. Over 20,750 students attend these schools, including both Chabad and non-Chabad children.

• Secondary Schools: Chabad has high schools for young men (like Tomchei Tmimim) and young women (like Bais Rivka).

• Adult Education: Chabad offers programs for adults to learn more about Judaism.

Reaching Out to Others

Many of Chabad's activities focus on reaching out to other Jewish people. Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson encouraged his followers to connect with all Jews. Chabad outreach includes activities that encourage Jewish people to practice Jewish commandments (called Mitzvah campaigns). Most of this outreach is done by Chabad emissaries (called Shluchim). They often reach out to other Jewish groups, like Reform Jews.

Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Schneersohn and then Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson were key in focusing Chabad on outreach. Rabbi Schneerson was a pioneer in helping Orthodox Judaism reach out to others.

They sent many rabbinic emissaries, or Shluchim, to live in places around the world to help with outreach. The centers they started are called "Chabad Houses."

Chabad has been very active in reaching out to Jews through its synagogues and other direct efforts. They are known for offering free holiday services to welcome people from all Jewish backgrounds.

Mitzvah Campaigns

The Chabad Rebbes encouraged all Jews to help non-observant Jews adopt Jewish practices. They taught that this helps bring the Messiah. Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson told every Jew: "Even if you are not fully committed to a Torah life, do something. Begin with a mitzvah—any mitzvah—its value will not be diminished by the fact that there are others that you are not prepared to do."

Schneerson also suggested ten specific mitzvot that he thought were good for emissaries to introduce to non-observant Jews. These were called mivtzoim (campaigns). They included:

• Lighting candles before Shabbat and Jewish holidays (by Jewish women).
• Putting on tefillin.
• Attaching a mezuzah to doorposts.
• Regular Torah study.
• Giving tzedakah (charity).
• Buying Jewish books.
• Observing kashrut (keeping kosher).
• Being kind to others.
• Jewish religious education.
• Observing the family purity laws.

Schneerson also stressed the importance of preparing for the coming of the moshiach. He believed that redemption would come when Jews did good deeds. He also said that non-Jews should be taught about the Seven Laws of Noah.

He strongly believed in providing good education for every child, Jewish or not. In honor of his work in education, the United States Congress made Education and Sharing Day on the Rebbe's Hebrew birthday.

Shluchim (Emissaries)

In 1950, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson encouraged Chabad followers to become shluchim (emissaries). Since then, Chabad shluchim have moved all over the world. They encourage non-observant Jews to adopt Jewish practices. They help Jews with their religious needs, and also offer practical help, spiritual guidance, and teaching. Their goal is to help Jews learn more about their heritage and practice Judaism.

Thousands of rabbis and educators have been trained to be shluchim. Usually, a young Lubavitch rabbi and his wife, with their children, move to a new place. As a family, they work to bring Jewish people closer to Orthodox Judaism and encourage non-Jews to follow the Seven Laws of Noah.

Shluchim run Chabad Houses, Jewish day schools, and Jewish summer camps. As of 2021, there are over 6,500 Chabad shluchim families worldwide. They run over 3,500 centers in more than 110 countries. Chabad has the largest network of synagogues of any Jewish movement.

Mitzvah Tank

A mitzvah tank is a special vehicle used as a portable "educational and outreach center" or a "mini-synagogue." Chabad members use them for outreach. Mitzvah tanks are common on the streets of New York City since 1974. Today, they are used worldwide wherever Chabad is active.

Campus Outreach

Chabad has greatly expanded its outreach on university and college campuses. Chabad Student Centers are active on over 100 campuses. They offer many activities at an additional 150 universities worldwide. Professor Alan Dershowitz has said that "Chabad's presence on college campuses today is absolutely crucial."

CTeen

The Chabad Teen Network (CTeen) is a global organization that teaches Jewish youth about their heritage. It is the part of the Chabad movement that focuses on teens. CTeen has over 100,000 members worldwide with 630 chapters in 44 countries. CTeen is open to all Jewish teens, no matter their background. It has been called "the fastest growing and most diverse Jewish youth organization in the world."

CTeen started in 2010 and operates in cities like Paris, Rio de Janeiro, and New York. Its programs include:

• CTeen International Shabbaton: An annual inspiring weekend that brings thousands of teens from around the world together. It includes a traditional Shabbat experience and a concert in Times Square.
• CTeen XTREME: A summer travel camp where teens challenge themselves physically and spiritually. They do extreme sports, observe a tech-free Shabbat, and keep kosher.
• CTeen U: A college-accredited program where teens learn about Jewish philosophy, ethics, and history. It started in 2019 with Yeshiva University.
• Heritage Quest: Educational trips to Poland and Israel to help teens connect with their Jewish roots.
• Kosher Food Club: A high school club in over fifty schools in the United States. It promotes healthy living, feeds the homeless, and teaches about traditional Jewish foods.

Chabad Young Professionals

Chabad also has a new program for young adults called Chabad Young Professionals (CYP). It focuses on social events and networking to encourage Jewish activity in young people's lives. CYP combines networking and meaning for many young people.

Publishing Books

Chabad publishes and shares Jewish religious books. Kehot Publication Society, Chabad's main publishing house, has translated Jewish books into 12 different languages. Kehot often sells books at lower prices and holds book sales. They usually distribute books written by Chabad rebbes, famous Hasidic leaders, and other Jewish authors.

Chabad Online

The Chabad movement publishes a lot of Jewish information online. Chabad's main website, Chabad.org, was one of the first Jewish websites. It is now the largest online Jewish community. It helps not only its own members but Jewish people worldwide.

Community Websites

Popular Chabad community websites include Chabad.org, anash.org, and CrownHeights.info.

Summer Camps

Chabad has a large network of camps around the world, mostly called Gan Israel. There are 1,200 camps serving 210,000 children. Most of these children do not come from Orthodox homes. About 500 of these camps are in the United States.

Chabad and Politics

Rabbi Schneerson was involved in issues related to the Israeli-Arab conflict. He believed that giving up land in Israel would put all Jews in Israel in danger. He also thought that even talking about giving up land would show weakness and encourage attacks.

In US politics, Schneerson supported government involvement in education. He welcomed the creation of the United States Department of Education in 1980. He believed that schools should teach values from the Seven Laws of Noah. He also asked for a moment of silence at the start of the school day. During this time, students could have good thoughts or prayers suggested by their parents.

In 1981, Schneerson publicly called for the use of solar energy. He believed that the US could become energy independent by developing solar power. He argued that relying on foreign oil might make the country compromise its values.

Library Dispute with Russia

In 2013, a US judge ruled that three Russian organizations should return the Schneersohn Library to the Brooklyn Chabad Library. This library contains 12,000 books that belonged to Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn. The books were taken by the Bolsheviks in 1917–18. Russia's Chief Rabbi, Berel Lazar, who is a Chabad emissary, agreed to move the library to Moscow's Jewish Museum and Tolerance Center as a compromise. However, the Chabad Library in Brooklyn criticized this decision.

Chabad in Arts and Media

Art

Chabad Hasidic artists have painted many scenes showing Chabad culture. These include religious ceremonies, study, and prayer. Other Chabad artists have created "Chasidic Pop Art" using bright colors and Jewish images.

Music

Singers like Avraham Fried and Benny Friedman have recorded traditional Chabad songs. Bluegrass artist Andy Statman has also recorded Chabad spiritual melodies (niggunim).

Reggae artist Matisyahu has included parts of Chabad niggunim and ideas from Chabad philosophy in some of his songs.

In 2022, an Israeli theater company created a Chabad-themed musical called HaChabadnikim. It tells the story of two young men from Kfar Chabad who move to Tel Aviv.

Literature

Many books have been written about Chabad. Some explore the spiritual struggles of Chabad followers. For example, the novel My Name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok tells the story of a Hasidic teen who struggles between his artistic passions and his community's rules. The "Ladover" community in the book is a reference to the Lubavitcher community in Crown Heights.

Other writers have written poems about Chabad philosophy or even science fiction stories about Chabad's future outreach efforts on other planets.

Film and Television

The Chabad-Lubavitch community has been the subject of many documentary films. These films show different aspects of Chabad life and culture. Some examples include:

• The Spark (1974): An overview of Lubavitch and Satmar communities in New York.
• The Return: A Hasidic Experience (1979): About Jews who joined the Chabad movement.
• What Is a Jew? (1989): A BBC documentary on Chabad.
• King of Crown Heights (1993): A film about Lubavitcher Hasidim.
• Welcome to the Waks Family (2003): A documentary about a Chabad family in Australia.
• Gut Shabbes Vietnam (2008): A documentary about a Chabad family in Vietnam.
• Shekinah Rising (2013): Explores the perspectives of female students at a Chabad school in Montreal.
• The Rabbi Goes West (2019): A documentary about a Chabad rabbi who moves to Montana.

There have also been TV series and segments about Chabad, such as Kathmandu (2012), an Israeli TV series based on Chabad emissaries in Nepal, and Outback Rabbis (2018), an Australian TV segment covering Chabad's program in rural Australia.

See also

In Spanish: Jabad-Lubavitch para niños

• Satmar (Hasidic dynasty)
• Ger (Hasidic dynasty)
• Bobov (Hasidic dynasty)