The Philosophy

The word “Chabad” is a Hebrew acronym for the three intellectual faculties

of chochmah—wisdom, binah—comprehension and da’at—knowledge. 

The movement’s system of Jewish religious philosophy, the deepest 

dimensions of G‑d’s Torah, teaches understanding and recognition of the 

Creator, the roleand purpose of creation, and the importance and unique

mission of each creature. This philosophy guides a person to refine and

govern his or herevery act and feeling through wisdom,

comprehension and knowledge.

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The word “Lubavitch” is the name of the town in White Russia where the

movement was based for more than a century. The word Lubavitch in Russian appropriately 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.

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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 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.

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The 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 withRabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi of righteous memory

(1745–1812). These leaders expoundedupon 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 thetotality of Jewish life, spiritual and physical. No person or detail

was too small or insignificantfor their love and dedication.

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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.

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The Organization

The origins of today’s Chabad-Lubavitch organization can be traced to the early

1940s, 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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