Congregation Ezrath Israel Chabad

Chabad of Ellenville is a home where everyone is welcome, regardless of affiliation, level of knowledge or observance. Rabbi Yakov and Chaya Raskin, along with their children, strive to create a warm, welcoming environment to explore and experience our heritage in a non-judgmental and inviting atmosphere. We are founded on the principle that while Jews may embrace many levels of observance in their personal lives, there should be a place for all Jews - no labels, no affiliations - to develop a sense of community, to enhance the experience of being Jewish, to learn and enjoy Judaism.

It is our mission to strengthen the Ellenville Jewish community by promoting Jewish pride, education and unity. We aim to provide for the spiritual and material needs of all Jews in the community, regardless of their background, affiliation or financial means, and to provide insight and explanation on Judaism’s history and universal values to our friends beyond the Jewish community who would like to learn more. Our goal is to serve as a warm and friendly community where everyone is made to feel welcome and comfortable.

Chabad-Lubavitch is a philosophy, a movement, and an organization. It is considered to be the most dynamic force in Jewish life today. 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 or 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.

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 affected almost every facet of Jewish life.

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