Chabad-Lubavitch is a Hasidic Jewish movement that believes in traditional Orthodox Judaism, with a strong focus on Torah study, mitzvot, and serving God with both intellect and heart.

Core beliefs

  • God is one, beyond physical form, and actively involved in the world.
  • The Torah is divine and central to Jewish life.
  • Jewish commandments, or mitzvot, matter in daily life and spiritual growth.
  • Prayer, study, charity, and acts of kindness are important ways to connect with God and others.
  • Chabad emphasizes Chabad itself as an acronym for wisdom, understanding, and knowledge, meaning they stress understanding faith deeply rather than just following ritual mechanically.

What makes them distinct

Chabad is known for outreach: it tries to help other Jews connect with Judaism, regardless of how observant they already are. It also teaches that people should use their minds to guide emotions, so spirituality is not only about feeling but also about learning and disciplined practice.

Messianic belief

Like mainstream Orthodox Judaism, Chabad believes in the coming of the Messiah, divine providence, reward and punishment, and resurrection of the dead. Some discussions about Chabad focus on the late Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson, but that topic is more controversial and not the whole of Chabad belief.

In plain English

If you strip it down, Chabad-Lubavitch believes Judaism should be lived with study, joy, kindness, and constant awareness of God’s presence. Their style is highly intellectual, deeply traditional, and strongly focused on bringing other Jews closer to Jewish practice.