Chabad offshoot groups are those spawned from the Chabad Hasidic Jewish movement. Many of these groups were founded to succeed previous Chabad leaders, acting as rivals to some of the dynastic rebbes of Chabad. Others were founded by former students of the movement, who, in forming their own groups, drew upon their experiences at Chabad. Since the founding of Chabad in 1775, the movement has had seven leaders, or rebbes. There were at least eleven leaders of the offshoot groups, who were either relatives or students of the Chabad rebbes.
Major offshoots
The major groups to have split from the Chabad movement, forming their own Chabad-styled Chasidic groups, often positioned themselves as legitimate successors of previous Chabad leaders. Major offshoot groups of the Chabad movement include:
Strashelye
was founded after the death of Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, founder of the Chabad movement. The Strashelye branch was formed as the result of a dispute of Rabbi Shmeur Zalman's succession. The group also advocated an alternate approach to Chabad thought, rivaling both the leadership as well as the teachings of Rabbi Dovber Schneuri, the second rebbe of Chabad, and Rabbi Shneur Zalman's son. Though the group was founded by a former student of Chabad, it is commonly referred to as "Strashelye" after the town in the Mohilev Province of present-day Belarus where its leaders lived. The Strashelye group had two rebbes:
Rabbi Aaron ha-Levi ben Moses of Staroselye, the founder of the group. Rabbi Aaron was a student of Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, and a friend of Dovber Shneuri. The main theological issues dividing Rabbi Aaron and Rabbi Dovber were their differing attitudes and approaches to mystical concepts explained in Hasidic thought and Chabad philosophy.
The Kopust group was founded following the death of the third rebbe of Chabad, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Shneerson, the Tzemach Tzedek. At the time of Rabbi Menachem Mendel's death, several of his sons assumed the title of rebbe, splitting the movement into several groups. Following Chabad-Lubavitch, the Kapust group was the longest surviving group. Kapust appears not to have any major theological disputes with the leaders of Chabad. The group had four rebbes:
Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Schneersohn of Kopys, son of Rabbi Yehuda Leib. Rabbi Shlomo Zalman assumed the title of rebbe following his father's death, a title he held until his own death in 1900. In Chabad circles he is often referred to simply as "the Kapuster". Shlomo Zalman authored a volume on Hasidism, titled Magen Avos.
Rabbi Shmaryahu Noah Schneersohn of Kopys and Bobruisk, the brother of Rabbi Shlomo Zalman. Following Rabbi Shlomo Zalman's death, he assumed the title of rebbe in the town of Bobruisk. He authored Shemen La'Maor on Hasidism.
Rabbi Shalom Dovber Schneersohn of Retzitza, brother of Rabbis Shmaryahu Noah and Shlomo Zalman. Following the death of his brother, Rabbi Shmaryahu Noah, Shalom Dovber assumed the title of rebbe in the town of Retzitza.
Liadi
was founded after the death of the third Chabad rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneersohn. The group was one of several groups that sought to succeed Rabbi Menachem Mendel, whose death created a dispute over his succession. Liadi had two rebbes:
was founded after the death of the third Chabad rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneersohn. The group was one of several groups that sought to succeed Rabbi Menachem Mendel, whose death created a dispute over his succession. The group had one rebbe, Rabbi Yisroel Noach of Niezhin, son of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneersohn, who founded the group.
Avrutch
was founded after the death of the third Chabad rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneersohn. The group was one of several groups that sought to succeed Rabbi Menachem Mendel, whose death created a dispute over his succession. The group had one rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak of Avrutch, son of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneersohn, who founded the group.
Other groups
Other groups have branched from the Chabad movement. One group was formed to succeed the seventh Chabad rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson.
The Malachim were formed as a quasi-Hasidic group. The group claims to recognize the teachings of the first four rebes of Chabad, thus rivaling the later Chabad rebbes. It is claimed that a personal dispute between its founder and the fifth Chabad rebbe, Shalom DovBer Schneersohn, was a prime factor affecting its split with Chabad. The Malachim had one rebbe, Rabbi Chaim Avraham Dov Ber Levine haCohen, also known as "The Malach". He was a follower of Rabbis Shmuel Schneersohn and Shalom Dovber Schneersohn, the fourth and fifth rebbes of Chabad. He was also the tutor of Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Schneersohn, the sixth rebbe of Chabad. While Levine did not leave a successor, the Malachim group continues to maintain a yeshiva and minyan in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
Following the death of the seventh Chabad rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, Rabbi Shaul Shimon Deutch, a member of Chabad, attempted to found a group of his own. Deutch took the title "Liozna Rebbe", after the town of Liozna where Chabad founder Rabbi Shneur Zalman served as rebbe for a number of years. Deutch failed to gain broad support and was subsequently derided within the Chabad movement for the move.
Some Jewish groups were founded by former followers of Chabad. These founders did not intend to succeed or rival the leaders of Chabad. Instead, these former followers of Chabad formed their own groups, drawing from their prior experiences as former Chabad adherents, transmitting Chabad teachings to their own followers.
Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi was originally affiliated with Chabad at the start of his career. He later left the Chabad movement and was instrumental in founding the Jewish Renewal movement. Schechter frequently cites Chabad teachings in his writings, and gives credit to Chabad for teaching him "davenology", a guide to Jewish prayer and meditation.
Carlebach
Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, singer-songwriter and rabbi, was originally affiliated with Chabad at the start of his career. He later left the movement and attracted a following of his own.
