Chabad affiliated organizations

Chabad affiliated organizations and institutions number in the thousands. Chabad is a Hasidic movement, a branch of Orthodox Judaism. The organizations and institutions associated with the movement provide social, educational and religious services to Jews around the globe.

Chabad organizations

Chabad organizations include individual organizations, central and umbrella organizations, and independent organizations.

Chabad's central organization representing the movement at large, Agudas Chasidei Chabad, is headed by Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky. The educational and outreach arm, Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch, is also headed by Krinsky. Other central organizations include Lubavitch Youth Organization and Mahane Israel.

Local Chabad centers and institutions are often incorporated as separate legal entities.^[1]

Agudas Chasidei Chabad

Agudas Chassidei Chabad (Union of Chabad Chasidim or Association of Chabad Chassidim also known by its initials "Aguch") is the umbrella organization for the worldwide Chabad-Lubavitch movement. Aguch oversees the other Chabad central organizations such as Machneh Israel and Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch. The chairman of the Executive Committee is Rabbi Abraham Shemtov.

The organization's divisions include:

• Library of Agudas Chassidei Chabad – Chabad's main library housing its book and manuscript collection and historical archives.

Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch

Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch – Founded in 1942, Merkos, as it is commonly known, is Chabad's educational arm, with several divisions:^[2]

• Kehot Publication Society – Chabad's main publishing house.
• Central Chabad Lubavitch Library – The movement's main library, which houses its manuscript collection and other Jewish works.
• Chabad.org – Chabad's main website; it includes thousands of articles and Jewish multimedia.
• Office of Education (Chabad) – A center for educators and parents.
• National Committee for the Furtherance of Jewish Education (NCFJE) – The NCFJE runs several summer camps and ither Jewish educational programs including released time.
• Jewish Learning Institute (JLI) – JLI provides Jewish education classes for adults and teens.
• Jewish Learning Network ("jnet") – "jnet" provides a service matching Jewish adults who wish to study Jewish topics with volunteers who offer tutoring over the phone.
• The Shluchim Office – A resource center for Shluchim, Chabad's emissaries.
• Jewish Educational Media (JEM) – JEM houses the movement's audio and video collection.
• The Shluchim Exchange – A online social network for Shluchim, Chabad's emissaries.

Mahane Israel

Mahane Israel – Founded in 1942, Mahane Israel acts as Chabad's social service agency, with several divisions:^[2]

• Collel Chabad – Originally established by Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, Collel Chabad is one of the oldest Jewish charities operating today.
• Mahane Israel Development Fund (MIDF) – MIDF is a fund dedicated to the growth of Jewish life worldwide.
• Tzivot Hashem: Jewish Children International – Tzivot Hashem provides educational activities for Jewish children under Bar/Bat Mitzvah (ages 12–13).
• Keren Hachomesh Charitable Foundation – A charitable foundation founded in 1988, after the death of Chaya Mushka Schneerson, the wife of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson.^[3]
• Keren Mamosh Charitable Foundation – A charitable foundation.
• Taharas Hamishpocho International – Founded in 1975, the organization provides educational resources pertaining to Jewish family purity.
• N'Shei Chabad – The movement's central women's organization.

Affiliated organizations

Other organizations affiliated with the movement, though not subject to the oversight of Agudas Chasidei Chabad include:

• Tomchei Temimim – The central organization administering Chabad yeshivas. Founded in 1897, Tomchei Temimim is older than Agudas Chasidei Chabad, and is not overseen by it.
• Vaad Talmidei Hatmimim Haolami – The central student organization serving the worldwide Chabad Lubavitch Yeshiva network. Founded in 2001, the Vaad is under the auspices of the Yeshiva faculty.
• Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia and Federation of Jewish Communities of the CIS – The central organizations representing Russian Jewry. These organizations are run by Chabad emissaries and their supporters, however, the organizations are not overeen by Agudas Chasidei Chabad.
• Menachem Education Foundation (MEF)

Chabad institutions

As of 2007 there are 3,300 Chabad institutions around the world.^[4][5][6] As of 2006 there were Chabad centers in 75 countries.^[7]

Listed on the Chabad movement's online directory are around 1,350 Chabad institutions. This number includes schools and other Chabad-affiliated establishments. The number of Chabad centers vary per country; the majority are in the United States and Israel (see table). There are over 40 countries which have a small Chabad presence (not listed in the table). In total, according to its directory, Chabad maintains a presence in 950 cities around the world: 178 in Europe, 14 in Africa, 200 in Israel, 400 in North America, 38 in South America, and about 70 in Asia (excluding Israel, including Russia).^[8]

Chabad institutions by geographic region

Chabad institutions are spread throughout the globe, with the largest concentration being in the United States.

Chabad institutions in Europe

There are 465 Chabad institutions in Europe. The majority are in France, Russia, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.^[9]

Country	Chabad institutions
Armenia	1
Austria	13
Azerbaijan	3
Belarus	7
Belgium	5
Bulgaria	1
Croatia	1
Czech Republic	1
Denmark	1
Estonia	1
France	125
Finland	1
Georgia	1
Germany	14
Greece	3
Hungary	3
Ireland	1
Italy	19
Latvia	1
Lithuania	2
Luxembourg	1
Malta	1
Moldova	1
Netherlands	14
Northern Ireland	1
Norway	1
Poland	1
Romania	1
Russia	91
Serbia	1
Scotland	3
Slovakia	2
Spain	4
Sweden	3
Switzerland	9
Ukraine	62
United Kingdom	47
Total	465

Chabad institutions in Asia

There are 615 Chabad institutions in Asia. The majority are in Israel.^[10][11]

Country	Chabad institutions
Cambodia	1
China	8
Cyprus	2
India	3
Israel	573
Japan	2
Kazakhstan	5
Korea	1
Kyrgyzstan	1
Nepal	1
North Cyprus	1
Singapore	1
Thailand	8
Turkey	2
Uzbekistan	5
Total	615

Chabad institutions in Oceania

There are 67 Chabad institutions in Oceania. The majority are in Australia.^[12]

Country	Chabad institutions
Australia	65
New Zealand	2
Total	67

Chabad institutions in Africa

There are 22 Chabad institutions in Africa. The majority are in South Africa.^[13]

Country	Chabad institutions
Democratic Republic of Congo	1
Nigeria	1
South Africa	19
Tunisia	1
Total	22

Chabad institutions in North America

There are 1,174 Chabad institutions in North America. The majority are in Canada and the United States.^[14][15]

Country	Chabad institutions
Canada	110
Costa Rica	1
Dominican Republic	1
Guatemala	1
Turks and Caicos	1
United States	1,060
Total	1,174

Chabad institutions in South America

There are 80 Chabad institutions in South America. The majority are in Brazil and Argentina.^[16]

Country	Chabad institutions
Argentina	35
Bolivia	1
Brazil	35
Chile	2
Colombia	2
Ecuador	1
Paraguay	1
Peru	1
Uruguay	1
Venezuela	1
Total	80

Chabad Houses

A Chabad House is a form of Jewish community center, primarily serving both educational and observance purposes.^[17] Often, until the community can support its own center, the Chabad House is located in the shaliach's home, with the living room being used as the "synagogue". Effort is made to provide an atmosphere in which the nonobservant will not feel intimidated by any perceived contrast between their lack of knowledge of Jewish practice and the advanced knowledge of some of the people they meet there.^[18] The term "Chabad House" originated with the creation of the first such outreach center on the campus of UCLA by Rabbi Shlomo Cunin.^[19]

In the 2008 Mumbai attacks, the local Chabad House was targeted.^[20][21] The local Chabad emissaries, Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and his wife Rivka, and four other Jews were brutally murdered. Chabad received condolences from around the world.^[22]

Fundraising

Funds for activities of a Chabad center rely entirely on the local community. Chabad centers do not receive funding from Lubavitch headquarters. For the day-to-day operations, local emissaries do all the fundraising by themselves.

Chabad emissaries often solicit the support of local Jews.^[23] Funds are used toward purchasing or renovating Chabad centers, synagogues and Mikvahs.^[24]

See also

• Chabad

References

1. Burstein, Paul. "Jewish Nonprofit Organizations in the U.S.: A Preliminary Survey". Contemporary Jewry. 31:2. (2011): pp. 129-148.
2. Lubavitch.com. "Divisions". Lubavitch.com. http://lubavitch.com/departments.html
3. 2009 fundraising letter
4. Gelbwasser, Michael, Sun Chronicle, March 31, 2007
5. Religion today, by Emily Fredrix, December 6, 2007 Associated Press
6. About Chabad-Lubavitch on the official Chabad website, Chabad.org.
7. Drake, Carolyn (February 2006). "A Faith Grows in Brooklyn". National Geographic.
8. "The directory of Chabad Institutions throughout the world". Chabad.org. Retrieved 2010-05-12.
9. Lubavitch centers in Europe
10. Lubavitch centers in Asia
11. Lubavitch centers in the Middle East
12. Lubavitch centers in Australia
13. Lubavitch centers in Africa
14. Lubavitch centers in North America
15. Lubavitch centers in the Caribbean
16. Lubavitch centers in South America
17. The New York Times, December 16, 2005.
18. "Passover Seders Around the World", Associated Press, March 19, 2007.
19. Challenge
20. Jewish Center Is Stormed, and 6 Hostages Die
21. Joshua RunyanNov 30, 2008 (2008-11-30). "Funeral Preparations for Chabad House Victims Under Way". Chabad.org. Retrieved 2010-05-12.
22. Obama sends condolences to Chabad, Jewish Telegraph Agency (JTA), December 4, 2008.
23. M. Avrum Ehrlich. The Messiah of Brooklyn: Understanding Lubavitch Hasidim Past and Present. p. 134.
24. Fishkoff, Sue, ‘’The Rebbe’s Army’’, Schoken books 2003 (ISBN 08052 11381) pages 160–161.