About Us
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Chabad is a place where everyone is welcome!
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Chabad of Augusta was founded on the basic principal that a Jew is a Jew is a Jew.
Simply put, we do not recognize the labels of Orthodox, Conservative, or Reform Judaism. As we are the children of one G-d, who study from one
Torah, we are in fact one People, and as such we welcome all Jews looking to share and celebrate in our common heritage.
We attract a large and diverse group of people because we foster an environment that enables each individual to explore his/her own unique
relationship with Judaism at their own pace.
With a wide selection of programs for every family and individual the Chabad Center is a vibrant and exciting place to be. It’s a place where
you can follow any of the many paths of your Jewish heritage -- its the place where Judaism comes alive!
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Fischer Family:
Chabad of Augusta was established by Rabbi Zalman & Chani Fischer with the idea of providing a rich traditional Jewish home that could be
enjoyed by everyone in the community.
Rabbi Zalman Fischer received semicha (rabbinic ordination) from the Central Lubavitch Yeshiva Tomchei Temimim in Brooklyn,
NY. Among his outreach experience, he also traveled to Tashkent, Uzbekistan and Moscow, Russia to help revitalize the spiritually impoverished
Jewish communities recovering from communist oppression.
Rebitzin Chani Fischer, a native of Brooklyn NY, is perhaps one of the most active local Jewish role models for young women wanting to share in
the joys of traditional Judaism. She teaches children in our community and takes a leading role in many of our ongoing programs.
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Chabad-Lubavitch is a philosophy, a movement, and an organization. It is considered to be the most dynamic force in Jewish life today.
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Philosophy:
The word "Chabad" is a Hebrew acronym for the three intellectual faculties of: chochmah-wisdom, binah-comprehension and da'at-knowledge. The
movement's system of Jewish religious philosophy, the deepest dimension of G-d's Torah, teaches understanding and recognition of the Creator,
the role and purpose of Creation, and the importance and unique mission of each Creature. This philosophy guides a person to refine and govern
his and her every act and feeling through wisdom, comprehension and knowledge.The word "Lubavitch" is the name of the town in White Russia where
the movement was based for more than a century. Appropriately, the word Lubavitch in Russian means the "city of brotherly love." The name Lubavitch
conveys the essence of the responsibility and love engendered by the Chabad philosophy toward every single Jew.
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Movement:
Following its inception 250 years ago, the Chabad-Lubavitch movement -- a branch of Hasidism -- swept through Russia and spread in surrounding
countries as well. It provided scholars with answers that eluded them and simple farmers with a love that had been denied of them. Eventually the
philosophy of Chabad-Lubavitch and its adherents reached almost every corner of the world and today affect almost every facet of Jewish life.
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Leadership:
The movement is guided by the teachings of its seven leaders (Rebbes), beginning with Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, of righteous memory (1745-1812).
These leaders expounded upon the most refined and delicate aspects of Jewish mysticism, creating a body of work thousands of books strong. They
personified the age-old, Biblical qualities of piety and leadership. And they concerned themselves not only with Chabad-Lubavitch, but with the
totality of Jewish life, spiritual and physical. No person or detail was too small or insignificant for their love and dedication.
In our generation, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, known simply as "the Rebbe," guided post-holocaust Jewry to safety from
the ravages of that devastation.
Organization:
The origins of today's Chabad-Lubavitch organization can be traced to the early 1940's when the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi
Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn of righteous memory (1880-1950), appointed his son-in-law and later successor, Rabbi Menachem Mendel, to head the
newly-founded educational and social service arms of the movement.
Motivated by his profound love for every Jew and spurred by his boundless optimism and self-sacrifice, the Rebbe set into motion a dazzling array
of programs, services and institutions to serve every Jew.
Today 4,000 full-time emissary families apply 250 year-old principles and philosophy to direct more than 3,300 institutions (and a workforce that
numbers in the tens of thousands) dedicated to the welfare of the Jewish people worldwide.
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Future:
Imagine a community where people come to experience Judaism together, to connect with each other, to study together, to pray together, and to support
one another. Imagine a community that offers love and warmth, that fosters a sense of belonging, and that has a sense of shared history and common
destiny.
Click here to read more about our plans for the future.
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