Lamplighters

Over the past few decades Chabad-Lubavitch has become well-known in Jewish communities throughout the world for its intense offensive toward greater observance of Torah and mitzvot.

Numerous young men and women move to dozens of cities and countries, often far away from their own places of origin, on shlichut (mission) to establish new, or fortify existing, educational institutions and to fill responsible positions involving spiritual, educational and social needs.

Their sole objective is to strengthen Jewish identity and religious consciousness in their new surroundings. Many more, holding a variety of positions over the whole spectrum of professional occupations, seek, each in his or her own way, to achieve the same objective in their different environments.

A profound spirit of activism pervades the whole community of Lubavitch, involving directly or indirectly every one of its members. Thousands of Jews from every kind of background have thus been exposed to an experience and influence of classical Judaism, causing them to reorient their lives toward their historical identity and traditional values. Many of those who found the way back to their roots are now themselves active in the frontlines guiding others back.

Lubavitch seems to be an anachronism in this day and age. As early as a century ago, professional historians and sociologists, wrapped up in their statistical data and natural laws of causality, wrote off Chassidism as a passing relic and idiosyncrasy of an age long past. It seems, though, that no one informed the Chassidim of these prognostications. They defy and frustrate the prophets of doom by their tenacious, continuing survival. Verily, even after the horrible, decimating tragedy of the Holocaust which, proportionally, struck the adherents of Chassidism more than others, Chassidism today enjoys a miraculous renaissance which staggers the imagination. Like the chol, the legendary phoenix-bird which constantly rises again in youthful freshness from its own ashes, Chassidism blossoms again, vibrantly alive and consistently spreading.

Many wonder: whence this strength? Whence their super-human courage? Whence this unbelievable steadfastness in an age of counter-culture? In the midst of this very world Lubavitch not only stands its own ground but successfully broadens it.