What is Chabad-Lubavitch?
Simply put, Chabad's mission is to reach out to others with acts of goodness and kindness. We’re a community-based nonprofit organization whose efforts are rooted in traditional Jewish values — and many of our programs help the needy regardless of background or belief. With over 3,300 international branches, Chabad-Lubavitch is the largest Jewish organization in the world today.
Chabad-Lubavitch embraces a philosophy of study, meditation, and social outreach that bridges rigorous academics with proactive community involvement. Chabad’s rapidly growing array of educational institutions, outreach programs, and social services has made it one of the most dynamic forces in modern Jewish life.
“Chabad” is a Hebrew acronym for “Wisdom, Understanding and Knowledge,” and Lubavitch is the town in White Russia where the movement was based for more than a century. The word “Lubavitch” means “brotherly love,” which is emblematic of the love and dedication that characterizes Chabad-Lubavitch and its emissaries. Founded in 1772 by Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, Chabad promotes the mystical, traditional, legal and social principles of the Torah — while using modern methods and technology for education, community outreach, youth programs, crisis intervention, and other social services.