Chassidut Chabad

B"H

If anyone wants to know anything about the chassidic group Chabad, he should not face any difficulties getting the information. There is a vast amount of literature about Chabad; from outsiders, insiders and the Rebbes themselves. The chassidut Chabad includes many subjects, and in this article I am trying to explain the most important points.

I studied with Chabad in the Old City of Jerusalem for about five years. I participated in many Shiurim (classes), Shabbatot and studied the Book of Tanya. However, I am not a member of any chassidic group. Today I still do go to a Chabad synagogue and if there is any chassidut with whom I can identify most, it is definetely Chabad. No, I am not talking about the Meschiach business but about their idea that G-d is everywhere and, therefore, very close. Who does not want G-d to be close ?

Chabad chassidut was founded after the death of the famous Maggid of Mezritch. The Maggid was a student of the Baal Shem Tov and after his death, he became his successor. The most famous diciples of the Maggid were Rabbi Shneur Zalman, Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk and Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev. Rabbi Shneur Zalman was the youngest student of the Maggid. After the Maggid died (1772), Shneur Zalman studied under Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk but the later soon moved to Israel.

Today Chabad still claims that Rabbi Shneur Zalman was the real successor of the Maggid and the Baal Shem Tov. Other groups, such as Breslov, claim just the opposite. The truth is that after the Maggid's death, his diciples split into many groups. Another proof that the opponents of Shneur Zalman emphazised is that he never knew the Baal Shem Toc personally. In fact, there was a serious dispute between Rabbi Baruch, the grandson of the Baal Shem Tov and Rabbi Shneur Zalman. Both claimed to be the real successor and leader of the chassidic movement.

Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi (1745 - 1813) became the founder of Chabad which is originally called Lubavitch from the town Lubavitch (Belarus). Shneur Zalman "clothed" the kabbalistic teachings of the ARI (Rabbi Yitzchak Luria) in chassidic interpretations. He saw the teachings of the Lubavitcher group as highly intellectual and gave a new name to the group: Chabad, which is an abbriviation and stand for the kabbalistic terms of Chochma - Wisdom, Bina - Understanding, Daat - Knowledge.

Shneur Zalman is also being called the Alter Rebbe or the Baal HaTanya. Tanya (first published in 1796) is the most famous book and includes all the Chabad philosophies. Furthermore, it is very kabbalistic and should not be studied without a teacher.

The whole chassidut Chabad is based on the Kabbalah of the ARI which you can see in the Tanya. Every person has two souls, an animal soul and a g-dly soul, and we have to transform bad into good. Through prayer we bring G-d down into our physical world and thus create a dwelling place for Him. It is very important to create a relationship between G-d and His worlds which we do through prayer with Kavanah (concentration) and through meditation. G-d is everywhere and never far away. He is in everything we see or touch.

Meditation is a very important aspect in Chabad philosophie. Meditation on mystical aspects of creation or on the relation between the Creator and His creation. This brings us to a higher level of consciousness or a greater degree of self - awareness. In Chabad terms this is called Hitbonenut (building).

Chabad has an intellectual connection between chassidut and Judaism. Studying mysticism intensifies dedication. Those are the most important concepts.

Throughout history, Chabad was always criticized. Famous was the dispute between the Lithuanian Rabbi from Bnei Brak, Rabbi Schach and the seventh and last Lubavitcher Rebbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson. Rabbi Schach seriously criticized the messianic idea of Chabad. During the time of the first Gulf War in 1991, Rabbi Schneerson said that now it is time for the Meschiach to come. He never said about himself that he is the Meschiach but his followers interpreted a few of his sayings. Anyway, Rabbi Schneerson never said YES od NO when being asked which was probably a mistake.

Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson died in June 1994, and he was the last Rebbe, as he and his wife did not have children who could take over. He was a great Rabbi and gave advice to thousands of people including famous politicians. He had never been to Israel because according to his opinion one being in Israel can never leave.

Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson sent Shlichim (messengers) to every place in the world. Thanks to him that today every Jewish tourist has a place to go to on Shabbat. If it is in Bejing, Tibet, Poland or Germany. Chabad is everywhere, as you can see on the Internet. They do Mitzwa campaigns by letting Jews put on Tefilin or invite them for Shabbatot.

Chabad has its own songs, prayer book (including the Tanya) and many other customs. I have never experienced anyone keeping the Pessach laws so strict as Chabad. They even put a rag around the water tap so that no chametz is getting through, and they eat the Mazzot out of plastic bags.

Chabad does not wear fur hats (Streimel) on Shabbat or at all. Married men wear a long black coat and unmarried men a normal jacket.

Not every Chabadnik is a Meschichist and believes in the Rebbe as Meschiach. Actually it is split into two groups: Those who do believe in the Rebbe and those who do not.

Today Chabad is the largest and most controversial group worldwide with approx. 200,000 followers. They do accept newcomes and orthodox converts to Judaism. Sometimes Chabad is not as open as it seems. Especially concerning Shidduchim.

Personally I do wish Chabad great success in Germany. There they are pretty much disliked. The so-called German orthodox rabbis do see them as competitors but, nevertheless, Chabad is doing a good job there and does teach some Yiddishkeit to the German Jews which most other rabbis do not. It is good to have some competition. Especially for the Jews themselves, as this way they benefit a lot.

If there is any criticism from Chabad or if I got anything wrong, please let me know.