Lubavitch, Lubavitch

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Lyubavichi (called Lubavitch by the Chabad community) is a small town now in Smolensk Oblast, Russia, (then Imperial Russia). The name of the town means "city of love," Sefer Hazichronot , chapter 1 . The movement was founded in Liozna, and then moved to Liadi, but it moved to Lubavitch after the Napoleonic War, and was based there for 102 years.

Over time Chabad branched out into a number of dynastic groups in towns such as Lubavitch, Liadi, and Kapost. Doctrinal differences between these groups were minimal. Since the early 20th century, the other dynasties have ended and Lubavitch alone remains as a cohesive group.

He was active in the opposition to the Haskalah (enlightenment Jews). In retaliation, the maskilim slandered him to the government several times between 1840-1842. However his services to the crown earned him the title "hereditary honored citizen". He served as Rebbe for 35 years until his death in 1866. He is buried in Lubavitch.

After international protests his life was spared and he went on a world tour in the early 1930s. He returned to Warsaw in 1934, disillusioned with the secularism of the United States. He stayed in Warsaw with his Hasidim through 1940 and the capture of the city by the Nazis. A desperate struggle to save his life ensued. Ultimately he was granted diplomatic immunity, and arrived in New York in March 1940, Altein, R, Zaklikofsky, E, Jacobson, I: "Out of the Inferno: The Efforts That Led to the Rescue of Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn of Lubavitch from War Torn Europe in 193940", page 270. Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch, 2002 ISBN 0826606830 reputedly with the help of Admiral Wilhelm Canaris. Altein, R, Zaklikofsky, E, Jacobson, I: "Out of the Inferno: The Efforts That Led to the Rescue of Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn of Lubavitch from War Torn Europe in 193940", page 160. Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch, 2002 ISBN 0826606830 Most of the Chabad Yeshiva system was destroyed by Bolshevik governments and the Nazi invasion in 1941, and many of its students were killed.

Gelbwasser, Michael, Sun Chronicle , March 31, 2007 Religion today , By EMILY FREDRIX, Dec 6 2007 Associated Press About Chabad-Lubavitch on the official Chabad website, Chabad.org.

Source: Wikipedia > Chabad