Los Angeles
Los Angeles is a city in the state of California in the United States. The city is home to the second-largest Chabad community in the United States (after Crown Heights), numbering approximately 750 families as of 2021.
Chabad Community in Los Angeles[edit | edit source]
In 1949, the Frierdiker Rebbe sent Rabbi Shmuel Dovid Raichik to serve as the Chabad shliach in Los Angeles, where he established the Chabad community in the city. At that time, there were only a few families and the community was small. In 1965, the Rebbe sent Rabbi Shlomo Cunin to serve as the shliach for the state of California. Over the years, new educational institutions, shuls, and centers were opened, and the Chabad community in the city grew and flourished.
Today, there are more than 50 active Chabad houses in the city. The Chabad community in the city numbers approximately 750 families according to estimates, making it the second-largest concentration of Chabad chassidim in the United States (after Crown Heights). The community primarily resides in the Hancock Park neighborhood (Levi Yitzchak community) and the Pico-Robertson neighborhood (Beis Bezalel community). There is also a small concentration of Chabad chassidim in North Beverly Hills under the leadership of shliach Yosef Shusterman. The community operates dozens of shuls spread throughout the city (mostly concentrated in the Hancock Park and Pico-Robertson neighborhoods) as well as dozens of educational institutions including several schools, Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim, a high school, and many chesed organizations.
On 20 Kislev 2022, Rabbi Shimon Raichik, the rav of the Chabad community in the city, passed away, and his son Rabbi Yisroel Noach Raichik took his father's place as rav of Los Angeles.
The Chabad activities in the city are extensive and diverse. During Chanukah, shliach Rabbi Shlomo Cunin conducts one of the largest central menorah lightings in the world. On Lag B'Omer, they hold a large parade similar to the parade held at 770. Additionally, a regional Kinus Hashluchim is held annually on the campus of Yeshivas Ohr Elchanan in Los Angeles.
Furthermore, the Chabad community in Los Angeles provides support to IDF soldiers and residents of Israel's southern region.
Chabad Institutions[edit | edit source]
- Beis Chabad Beis Menachem
- Cheder Menachem - Talmud Torah for boys. CEO: Rabbi Mendel Greenbaum, Principal: Rabbi Dovid Blasberg
- Beis Chaya Mushka - Girls' school
- Beis Chana - High school
- Yeshivas Ohr Elchanan