Chabad affiliated organizations


Chabad affiliated organizations and institutions number in the thousands. Chabad is a Hasidic movement, a branch of Orthodox Judaism. The organizations and institutions associated with the movement provide social, educational and religious services to Jews around the globe.

Chabad organizations

Chabad organizations include individual organizations, central and umbrella organizations, and independent organizations.
Chabad's central organization representing the movement at large, Agudas Chasidei Chabad, is headed by Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky. The educational and outreach arm, Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch, is also headed by Krinsky. Other central organizations include Lubavitch Youth Organization and Mahane Israel.
Local Chabad centers and institutions are often incorporated as separate legal entities.

Agudas Chasidei Chabad

Agudas Chassidei Chabad is the umbrella organization for the worldwide Chabad-Lubavitch movement. Aguch oversees the other Chabad central organizations such as Machneh Israel and Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch. The chairman of the Executive Committee is Rabbi Abraham Shemtov.
The organization's divisions include:
Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch - Founded in 1942, Merkos, as it is commonly known, is Chabad's educational arm, with several divisions:
Other organizations affiliated with the movement include:
As of 2007 there are 3,300 Chabad institutions around the world. As of 2006 there were Chabad centers in 75 countries.
Listed on the Chabad movement's online directory are around 1,350 Chabad institutions. This number includes schools and other Chabad-affiliated establishments. The number of Chabad centers vary per country; the majority are in the United States and Israel. There are over 40 countries which have a small Chabad presence. In total, according to its directory, Chabad maintains a presence in 950 cities around the world: 178 in Europe, 14 in Africa, 200 in Israel, 400 in North America, 38 in South America, and about 70 in Asia.

Chabad institutions by geographic region

Chabad institutions are spread throughout the globe, with the largest concentration being in the United States.

Chabad institutions in Europe

There are 465 Chabad institutions in Europe. The majority are in France, Russia, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.
CountryChabad institutions
1
13
3
7
5
1
1
1
1
1
125
1
1
14
3
3
1
19
1
2
1
1
1
14
1
1
1
91
1
2
4
3
9
62
51
Total465

Chabad institutions in Asia

There are 616 Chabad institutions in Asia. The majority are in Israel.
CountryChabad institutions
1
8
2
3
573
2
5
1
1
1
1
1
1
8
2
5
Total616

Chabad institutions in Oceania

There are 67 Chabad institutions in Oceania. The majority are in Australia.
CountryChabad institutions
65
2
Total67

Chabad institutions in Africa

There are 27 Chabad institutions in Africa. The majority are in South Africa.
CountryChabad institutions
1
1
1
Morocco3
1
19
1
Total27

Chabad institutions in North America

There are 1,174 Chabad institutions in North America. The majority are in Canada and the United States.
CountryChabad institutions
110
1
1
4
1
1,060
Total1,174

Chabad institutions in South America

There are 80 Chabad institutions in South America. The majority are in Brazil and Argentina.
CountryChabad institutions
35
1
35
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
Total80

Chabad Houses

A Chabad House is a form of Jewish community center, primarily serving both educational and observance purposes. Often, until the community can support its own center, the Chabad House is located in the shaliach's home, with the living room being used as the "synagogue". Effort is made to provide an atmosphere in which the nonobservant will not feel intimidated by any perceived contrast between their lack of knowledge of Jewish practice and the advanced knowledge of some of the people they meet there. The term "Chabad House" originated with the creation of the first such outreach center on the campus of UCLA by Rabbi Shlomo Cunin.
In the 2008 Mumbai attacks, the local Chabad House was targeted. The local Chabad emissaries, Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and his wife Rivka, and four other Jews were brutally murdered. Chabad received condolences from around the world.

Fundraising

Funds for activities of a Chabad center rely entirely on the local community. Chabad centers do not receive funding from Lubavitch headquarters. For the day-to-day operations, local emissaries do all the fundraising by themselves.
Chabad emissaries often solicit the support of local Jews. Funds are used toward purchasing or renovating Chabad centers, synagogues and Mikvahs.