Lubavitch

Chabad-Lubavitch, is one of the largest Hasidic movements in Orthodox Judaism, and is based in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn. Chabad is a Hebrew acronym for Chochmah, Binah, Da'at, meaning Wisdom, Understanding, and Knowledge. The movement took its name from Lyubavichi, the Russian town that served as the movement's headquarters for over a century. There are over 200,000 adherents to the movement, and up to a million Jews attend Chabad services at least once a year. Its adherents follow Chabad traditions and prayer services based on Lurianic kabbalah. As "Hasidim", they follow the Chassidus of Israel ben Eliezer. Founded by Shneur Zalman of Liadi in the late 18th century, Chabad-Lubavitch has had seven leaders or rebbes. Menachem Mendel Schneerson succeeded his father-in-law, Yosef Yitzchok Schneersohn in 1950, becoming the seventh leader of the movement, a position he held until his death in 1994. Today the movement runs thousands of centers around the world, Jewish community centers, synagogues and schools, providing outreach and educational activities for Jews.