Chabad House

Chabad House is a Jewish center where shluchim (emissaries), Chabad chassidim, carry out their activities. These are the Rebbe of Lubavitch's shluchim who are sent to places where there are Jews in order to establish Jewish community infrastructure or to strengthen existing institutions. Chabad Houses were first established in the 1950s (5710s). Each Chabad House has a director-shliach who oversees the organizational and financial aspects of the Chabad House. Usually, there are additional institutions under the management of the Chabad House, such as synagogues, mikvahs, schools and yeshivas, stores for holy items and kosher food, chesed centers, and more.

History

The first Chabad center in the world was established by Rabbi Shlomo Konin at the University of Los Angeles in California. The first "Beit Chabad" in Eretz Yisroel was established by Rabbi Zimroni Tzik in the city of Bat Yam. Today, approximately 3,000 Chabad Houses operate throughout the world, managed by about 5,000 shluchim.

The term "Beit Chabad" was coined by the Rebbe of Lubavitch in the Mem years (1980s/5740s) and since then it has become a synonym for a Chabad branch around the world. The umbrella organization of Chabad Houses in Eretz Yisroel is Tzeirei Agudas Chabad, which assists shluchim in their ongoing activities, mainly by supplying necessary products at subsidized prices and by providing guidance and direction. In the United States and around the world, Chabad Houses operate under the management of Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch.

Purpose of Chabad Houses

The purpose of Chabad Houses, as defined by their founder - the Rebbe, is to serve as "a house where Torah, prayer, and acts of kindness are cultivated," to assist every Jew wherever they may be, both in matters of religion and spirituality and in various needs.

In Iyar 5752, the Rebbe confirmed in response to a question from shliach Rabbi David Eliezri from Florida that his holy opinion was that the main emphasis in the activities of a Chabad House director in these days should be on matters of geulah and Moshiach, and he rejected the notion that activities regarding Moshiach should be done only as part of the other activities of the Chabad House.

Types of Chabad Houses

Even though all Chabad Houses in the world operate for the same purpose, to assist Jews "b'gashmiyus uv'ruchniyus" (in physical and spiritual matters), different types of Chabad Houses can be identified, including:

• University Chabad Houses - Focus on Jewish students and their special needs. These exist primarily in the United States and Europe.
• Chabad Houses for travelers - Focus on assisting Jewish backpackers during their trips. These are common mainly in the Far East and in Central and South America.
• Chabad Houses designated for specific populations, such as Chabad Houses for Russian or French speakers.
• Chabad Houses in medical centers - Designed to provide physical and spiritual assistance to patients and their relatives.
• Chabad Houses for youth - Work with young people.

There are also Chabad activity centers with similar names; "Beit Lubavitch," "Chabad Center" and the like, which engage in specific rather than general activities.

The Rebbe requested that every private home should become a Chabad House, "a home where Torah, tefillah, and gemilus chassadim (acts of kindness) are cultivated," and that they should place a sign on the door that says "Chabad House."

See Also

• Chabad Houses in Israel
• Chabadpedia: Chabad Houses worldwide
• Shliach (emissary)
• Chabad Houses (niggun)

External Links

• Search engine for Chabad Houses in Israel and worldwide
• The Chassidim sang: "A Chabad House in every place - that's what the Rebbe commanded!", third chapter in the series 'The Shlichus Revolution - Kinus Hashluchim 5782 (2021-2022)'