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| The Chabad movement was subjected to governmental oppression in Russia. The Russian government, first under the Czar, later under the Bolsheviks, imprisoned all but one of the Chabad rebbes. The Bolsheviks also imprisoned, exiled and executed many Chabad Chassidim. And many were sent to Siberia for years of hard labor. During the Second World War, many Chabad Chassidim evacuated to the Uzbek cities of Samarkand and Tashkent where they established small centers of Chassidic life, while at the same time seeking ways to emigrate from Soviet Russia due to the government's suppression of religious life.<ref>Estraikh, G. (2018). Escape through Poland: Soviet Jewish Emigration in the 1950s. Jewish History, 31(3-4), 291-317.</ref> The reach of Chabad in Central Asia also included earlier efforts that took place in the 1920s.<ref>Levin, Z. (2015). 1 "The Wastelands": The Jews of Central Asia. In Collectivization and Social Engineering: Soviet Administration and the Jews of Uzbekistan, 1917–1939 (pp. 7–26). Brill.</ref> Following the war, and well after the center of the Chabad movement moved to the United States, the movement remained active in Soviet Russia, aiding the local Jews known as Refuseniks who sought to learn more about Judaism.<ref>Beizer, M. (2007). The Jews of struggle: the Jewish national movement in the USSR, 1967–1989.</ref> And throughout the Soviet era, the Chabad movement maintained a secret network across the USSR.<ref>Gitelman, Z. (2007). Do Jewish Schools Make a Difference in the Former Soviet Union?. East European Jewish Affairs, 37(3), 377–398.</ref> Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, state persecution of Chabad ceased, and the Chabad movement openly leads the rebuilding of Judaism in Russia. | | The Chabad movement was subjected to governmental oppression in Russia. The Russian government, first under the Czar, later under the Bolsheviks, imprisoned all but one of the Chabad rebbes. The Bolsheviks also imprisoned, exiled and executed many Chabad Chassidim. And many were sent to Siberia for years of hard labor. During the Second World War, many Chabad Chassidim evacuated to the Uzbek cities of Samarkand and Tashkent where they established small centers of Chassidic life, while at the same time seeking ways to emigrate from Soviet Russia due to the government's suppression of religious life.<ref>Estraikh, G. (2018). Escape through Poland: Soviet Jewish Emigration in the 1950s. Jewish History, 31(3-4), 291-317.</ref> The reach of Chabad in Central Asia also included earlier efforts that took place in the 1920s.<ref>Levin, Z. (2015). 1 "The Wastelands": The Jews of Central Asia. In Collectivization and Social Engineering: Soviet Administration and the Jews of Uzbekistan, 1917–1939 (pp. 7–26). Brill.</ref> Following the war, and well after the center of the Chabad movement moved to the United States, the movement remained active in Soviet Russia, aiding the local Jews known as Refuseniks who sought to learn more about Judaism.<ref>Beizer, M. (2007). The Jews of struggle: the Jewish national movement in the USSR, 1967–1989.</ref> And throughout the Soviet era, the Chabad movement maintained a secret network across the USSR.<ref>Gitelman, Z. (2007). Do Jewish Schools Make a Difference in the Former Soviet Union?. East European Jewish Affairs, 37(3), 377–398.</ref> Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, state persecution of Chabad ceased, and the Chabad movement openly leads the rebuilding of Judaism in Russia. |
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| == Leadership ==
| | Chabad's influence among world Jewry has been far-reaching since [[World War II]]. Chabad pioneered the post-World War II [[Baal teshuva|Jewish outreach]] movement, which spread Judaism to many assimilated Jews worldwide, leading to a substantial number of {{transliteration|he|[[baalei teshuva]]}} ("returnees" to Judaism). The very first Yeshiva/Rabbinical College for such baalei teshuva, [[Hadar Hatorah]], was established by the Lubavitcher rebbe. It is reported that up to a million Jews attend Chabad services at least once a year.<ref name="Slater Page 279" /><ref name="winnipegfreepress.com">Chabad Lubavitch centre set for River Heights area. 5 August 2007. Sharon Chisvin. Winnipeg Free Press.</ref> |
| [[File:Schneersohn Family.png|thumb|Schneersohn family]]
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| {{Chabad (Rebbes and Chasidim)|Rebbes of Chabad}}
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| The Chabad movement has been led by a succession of Hasidic [[rebbe]]s. The main branch of the movement, Chabad-Lubavitch, has had seven rebbes:
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| * Rabbi [[Shneur Zalman of Liadi]] (1745–1812), founded the Chabad movement in the town of Liozna. The Chabad movement began as a separate school of thought within the Hasidic movement, focusing of the spread of Hasidic mystical teachings using logical reasoning (creating a kind of Jewish "rational-mysticism").<ref>[ |last=Mindel |first=Nissan |title=The Philosophy of Chabad |volume=2 |chapter=Intro |location=Brooklyn |publisher=Kehot Publication Society |year=1985 |isbn=978-0826604170}}</ref> Shneur Zalman's main work is the [[Tanya (Judaism)|Tanya]] (or {{transliteration|he|Sefer Shel Beinonim}}, "Book of the Average Man"). The ''Tanya'' is the central book of Chabad thought and is studied daily by followers of the Chabad movement. Shneur Zalman's other works include a collection of writings on Hasidic thought, and the {{transliteration|he|[[Shulchan Aruch HaRav]]}}, a revised version of the code of [[Halakha]], both of which are studied regularly by followers of Chabad. Shneur Zalman's successors went by last names such as "Schneuri" and "Schneersohn" (later "Schneerson"), signifying their descent from the movement's founder. He is commonly referred to as the "Old Rebbe" ({{Langx|yi|אַלטער רבי|[[Alter Rebbe]]}} or {{Langx|he|אדמו״ר הזקן|Admur Hazoken}}).<ref name="sacks">''The Encyclopedia of Hasidism'', "Habad", Jonathan Sacks, pp. 161–164</ref><ref name="masters">''Hasidism: The movement and its masters'', Harry M. Rabinowicz, 1988, pp. 83–92, Jason Aronson, London {{ISBN|0-87668-998-5}}</ref>
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| * Rabbi [[Dovber Schneuri]] (1773–1827), son of Rabbi Shneur Zalman, led the Chabad movement in the town of Lyubavichi (Lubavitch). His leadership was initially disputed by Rabbi [[Aaron Halevi of Stroselye]], however, Rabbi Dovber was generally recognized as his father's rightful successor, and the movement's leader. Rabbi Dovber published a number of his writings on Hasidic thought, greatly expanding his father's work. He also published some of his father's writings. Many of Rabbi Dovber's works have been subsequently republished by the Chabad movement. He is commonly referred to as the {{transliteration|yi|[[Mitteler Rebbe]]}} ({{Langx|yi|מיטעלער רבי}} 'Middle Rabbi', {{Langx|he|אדמו״ר האמצעי|Admur Ha'emtzoei}}).<ref name="earl">''Leadership in the Chabad movement'', Avrum Erlich, Jason Aronson, 2000 {{ISBN|0-7657-6055-X}}</ref><ref>''Hayom Yom'', p. A10</ref>
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| * Rabbi [[Menachem Mendel Schneersohn]] (1789–1866), a grandson of Rabbi Shneur Zalman and son-in-law of Rabbi Dovber. Following his attempt to persuade the Chabad movement to accept his brother-in-law or uncle as rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel assumed the title of rebbe of Chabad, also leading the movement from the town of Lyubavichi (Lubavitch). He published a number of his works on both Hasidic thought and Jewish law. Rabbi Menachem Mendel also published some of the works of his grandfather, Rabbi Shneur Zalman. He is commonly referred to as the {{transliteration|he|Tzemach Tzedek}} after the title of his [[responsa]].<ref>Chanoch Glitzenshtein, ''Sefer Hatoldos Tzemach Tzedek''</ref>
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| * Rabbi [[Shmuel Schneersohn]] (1834–1882), was the seventh and youngest son of Rabbi Menachem Mendel. He assumed the title of rebbe in town of Lyubavichi (Lubavitch), while several of his brothers assumed the title of rebbe in other towns, forming [[Chabad offshoot groups|Chabad groups of their own]] which existed for several decades. Years after his death, his teachings were published by the Chabad movement. He is commonly referred to as the {{transliteration|he|Maharash}}, an acronym for {{transliteration|he|Moreinu HaRav Shmuel}} ('our teacher, Rabbi Shmuel').<ref>''Hayom Yom'', p. A14</ref><ref>[|title=Sefer HaToldos Admur Maharash |url=sichosinenglish.org/books/sefer-hatoldos-admur-maharash/03.htm |access-date=March 8, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=web.archive.org/web/20080422214316/sichosinenglish.org/books/sefer-hatoldos-admur-maharash/03.htm |archive-date=April 22, 2008}}</ref>
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| * Rabbi [[Shalom Dovber Schneersohn]] (1860–1920), Shmuel's second son, succeeded his father as rebbe. Rabbi Shalom Dovber waited some time before officially accepting the title of rebbe, as not to offend his elder brother, Zalman Aaron. He established a [[yeshiva]] called [[Tomchei Temimim]]. During [[World War I]], he moved to [[Rostov-on-Don]]. Many of his writings were published after his death, and are studied regularly in Chabad yeshivas. He is commonly referred to as the {{transliteration|he|Rashab}}, an acronym for {{transliteration|he|Rabbi Shalom Ber}}.<ref>''Hayom Yom'', pp. 15–16</ref>
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| * Rabbi [[Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn]] (1880–1950), the only son of Sholom Dovber, succeeded his father as rebbe of Chabad. Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak was exiled from Russia, following an attempt by the [[Bolshevik]] government to have him executed.<ref>''Encyclopedia of Hasidism'', "Schneersohn, Joseph Isaac". Naftali Lowenthal. Aronson, London 1996. {{ISBN|1-56821-123-6}}</ref> He led the movement from [[Warsaw]], [[Poland]], until the start of [[World War II]]. After fleeing the [[Nazis]], Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak lived in [[Brooklyn]], [[New York State|New York]] until his death. He established much of Chabad's current organizational structure, founding several of its central organizations as well as other Chabad institutions, both local and international. He published a number of his writings, as well as the works of his predecessors. He is commonly referred to as the {{transliteration|he|Rayatz}} or the {{transliteration|he|Frierdiker Rebbe}} ('Previous Rebbe').
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| * Rabbi [[Menachem Mendel Schneerson]] (1902–1994),{{efn|He dropped the second 'h' from his name.}} son-in-law of Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak, and a great-grandson of the third Rebbe of Lubavitch, assumed the title of rebbe one year after his father-in-law's death. Rabbi Menachem Mendel greatly expanded Chabad's global network, establishing hundreds of new Chabad centers across the globe. He published many of his own works as well as the works of his predecessors. His teachings are studied regularly by followers of Chabad. He is commonly referred to as "the Lubavitcher Rebbe", or simply "the Rebbe". Even after his death, many continue to revere him as the leader of the Chabad movement.<ref name="earl" />
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| === Influence ===
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| Chabad's influence among world Jewry has been far-reaching since [[World War II]]. Chabad pioneered the post-World War II [[Baal teshuva|Jewish outreach]] movement, which spread Judaism to many assimilated Jews worldwide, leading to a substantial number of {{transliteration|he|[[baalei teshuva]]}} ("returnees" to Judaism). The very first Yeshiva/Rabbinical College for such baalei teshuva, [[Hadar Hatorah]], was established by the Lubavitcher rebbe. It is reported that up to a million Jews attend Chabad services at least once a year.<ref name="Slater Page 279" /><ref name="winnipegfreepress.com">[|url=winnipegfreepress.com/subscriber/faith/story/4017869p-4630456c.html |title=Chabad Lubavitch centre set for River Heights area |archive-url=web.archive.org/web/20070927194259/winnipegfreepress.com/subscriber/faith/story/4017869p-4630456c.html |archive-date=27 September 2007 |date=5 August 2007 |author=Sharon Chisvin |newspaper=Winnipeg Free Press |url-status=dead}}</ref> | |
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| According to journalist [[Steven I. Weiss]], Chabad's ideology has dramatically influenced non-Hasidic Jews' outreach practices.<ref>[ |last=Weiss |first=Steven I |url=forward.com/articles/1518/orthodox-rethinking-campus-outreach/? |title=Orthodox Rethinking Campus Outreach |work=The Jewish Daily Forward |date=January 20, 2006 |access-date=January 13, 2015}}</ref> Because of its outreach to all Jews, including those Jews who are quite alienated from religious Jewish traditions, Chabad has been described as the one Orthodox group which evokes great affection from large segments of [[American Jews|American Jewry]].<ref>''Jewish Literacy'', Telushkin, William Morrow 2001, p. 471<!-- Error! Published 1991 and 2008, not 2001 --></ref>
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| == Philosophy == | | == Philosophy == |