Chicago

Chicago is the largest city in the state of Illinois and the third largest in the United States with approximately 2,700,000 residents in the city, and about 9,600,000 in the metropolitan area. The city also has a large and historic Jewish community, which is the fourth largest Jewish community in the United States. Chicago has a large Chabad community, one of the most significant in the United States, numbering approximately 250 anash families as of 5781 (2021), with many institutions, a large Talmud Torah (about 500 students), and Chabad Houses.

Chicago is one of the first cities in the United States to have a Chabad community and has played a significant role in the establishment of the Chabad community in the United States.

Chabad Community of Chicago

The Chabad community in Chicago is a longstanding community that existed during the leadership of the Rebbe Maharash. The central synagogues in Chicago - "Bnei Reuven" served the Chabad community in those days, as did the Anshei Lubavitch Chicago synagogue.

The community was established by Jews who arrived in Chicago shortly after the Great Fire that broke out in the city in 5631 (1871), which destroyed large parts of it. The reconstruction work that began immediately after the flames subsided attracted many Jews to the city, including Chabad chassidim who, immediately upon arrival, established their own synagogue in order to preserve Chabad customs and nusach, and to serve as a community center for farbrengens, simchas, gatherings, and more.

Chicago was a very central city in the first decades of Chabad in the United States, and the Frierdiker Rebbe visited during his trip to the United States in 5690 (1930), and even considered moving there, but in practice, after the visit, the Rebbe wrote that he needed to continue residing in Europe.

The Frierdiker Rebbe also made a special visit in 5702 (1942) called the "Chicago Visit," and the things said there were arranged for printing by the Rebbe and published in the "Chicago Visit" booklet.

Over the years, the Chabad community in Chicago diminished until in 5737 (1977) it numbered only about 15 families. In 5736 (1976), Rabbi Daniel Moscowitz established Chabad of Illinois and settled in Chicago, and in 5742 (1982), Rabbi Moscowitz appointed Rabbi Yitzchak Wolf to manage the Chabad school, which opened in Elul 5739 (1979) by Rebbetzin Esther Rachel Moscowitz. Over the years, the school grew and a high school for anash girls was opened alongside it in the city, and the Chabad community in the city grew until in 5751 (1991) the community numbered about 50 anash families and another 75 families who prayed in the veteran synagogue "Bnei Reuven."

In 5751 (1991), Rabbi Daniel Moscowitz established a new high school that began its journey with only about 10 students and was located in the "Bnei Reuven" synagogue. In 5784 (2024), the high school moved to a new and magnificent building.

Today, the community numbers about 250 families residing mainly in the West Rogers Park neighborhood and operates educational institutions including a high school, a large Talmud Torah (about 500 students), Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim, and synagogues. There are over 50 active Chabad Houses operating in the city.

During Shemini Atzeret 5779 (2018), in an attack that took place in the city, the bochur Eliyahu Moscowitz HY"D, a Chabad chassid and resident of the city, was murdered.

Chabad Institutions in Chicago

Educational Institutions

• Mesivta Lubavitch Chicago
• Achi Temimim Chicago
• Lubavitch Community School
• Talmud Torah Lubavitch
• Girls' School
• Girls' High School - directed by Mrs. Sarah Weinberg

Synagogues

• Tzemach Tzedek Synagogue and Tehillim Society Chicago
• Anshei Lubavitch Synagogue Chicago
• Bnei Reuven Synagogue - Rabbi: Rabbi Baruch Hertz
• Beis Menachem Synagogue - Rabbi: Rabbi Baruch Reuven Epstein
• Beis Moshiach Chicago
• Moshiach Center Chicago

This chapter is incomplete. Please contribute to ChabadPedia and complete it. There may be more details on the discussion page.

Famous Chabad Chassidim from Chicago

• Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Shusterman
• Rabbi Mordechai Zvin
• Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu Elkin
• Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Hecht
• Rabbi Shalom Posner, who served as rabbi and mashpia for a period
• Rabbi David Moshe Lieberman, who served as rabbi of Bnei Reuven Synagogue Chicago
• Reb Moshe Gilman
• Reb Yaakov Katz (Chicago)
• Reb Shlomo Palmer

The Rebbe Rayatz in Chicago

Expanded entry – Chicago Visit

In the year 5702 (1942), the Rebbe Rayatz visited Chicago where he strengthened the Jews in the city and delivered several famous Chassidic discourses that were later collected in the Chicago Visit Booklet.

See Also

• The Rebbe Rayatz's Journey to the United States (5690/1930)

External Links

• Chicago: Where Education Takes Center Stage - Coverage of the Chabad community in the city [Original in English]
• Non-stop Tishrei in Chicago (28 Tishrei, 5770)
• 80 Years Later: Following in the Footsteps of the Previous Rebbe - Recreation of the Rebbe Rayatz's journey in Chicago [Original in English]
• The 150-year-old Synagogue in Chicago that the Rebbe Didn't Let Fade ** • ** A Visit to the Oldest Chabad Community in Chicago (English)
• Chicago's Glimpse Of Royalty, a booklet covering the Rebbe Rayatz's visit to the city