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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 dedication. The
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.

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