The Rebbes Army: Inside the World of Chabad-Lubavitch

Editorial Reviews. From Publishers Weekly. This remarkable ethnographic profile goes behind the scenes of Lubavitcher Judaism to explore how the.
Table of contents

See a Problem?

I do not agree with Chabad in a lot of issues, nor does the author, and I have yet to resolve what exactly is their position vis-a-vis me as a convert, but one thing is for sure: At the end of the day, they are Jews spreading the Torah, bringing others Jews back into Judaism, seeking to keep our way of life alive in the modern world.

For that they will always have my appreciation and gratitude. Jul 30, Michelle Jones rated it liked it. I think just about every Jew has an opinion on and a fascination with Chabad, on some level. My opinion is of course skewed by the fact that Chabad rejects both my flavor of Judaism Conservative and my very status as a Jew only Orthodox conversions count in their eyes. Even so I recognize that Chabad does very good work in many arenas and this book highlighted that good work even more.

This was a really good book. Well written, well researched and it neither endlessly praised nor condemned Ch I think just about every Jew has an opinion on and a fascination with Chabad, on some level. Well written, well researched and it neither endlessly praised nor condemned Chabad. Nov 10, Kate rated it really liked it. I enjoyed this book. It was pitch-perfect for me since I was looking for neither an indictment of the Chabad folks nor a sales pitch. Written by a journalist with an insider's eye and skeptic's critical distance, the book's argument is that, basically, the Chabad movement embodies both some of the best in their outreach, welcoming of strangers, willingness to meet people where they are and do the work that needs to be done and some of the worst gender segregation, a dismissal of secular educa I enjoyed this book.

Written by a journalist with an insider's eye and skeptic's critical distance, the book's argument is that, basically, the Chabad movement embodies both some of the best in their outreach, welcoming of strangers, willingness to meet people where they are and do the work that needs to be done and some of the worst gender segregation, a dismissal of secular education, intra-movement conflict in contemporary Judaism. I found the day-to-day details of the lives of Chabad emissaries fascinating, and the bulk of the book profiles different Chabad outreach efforts largely in America, although Thailand does receive some serious attention.

I wish that the book had more thoroughly addressed the role of Chabad in Israeli politics. Likewise, I felt that the chapter on the divisions within the Chabad leadership was not especially strong. Jan 28, Karin F. Jews and those who love or are curious about em. A fascinating, comprehensive, and unbiased examination of Chabad-Lubavich. Fishkoff travels the world meeting shlichim Chabad emmissaries who literally bring Judaism to the Jews, wherever they might be.

She deftly tackles Chabad's political influence, their duel shtetl-wordly existence, funding sources, admirers, detractors, and of course the Rebbe as Moshiach issue.

The Rebbe's Army: Inside the World of Chabad-Lubavitch by Sue Fishkoff

Perhaps more importantly, our intrepid author illuminates just who these people are and why they are spending their Friday after A fascinating, comprehensive, and unbiased examination of Chabad-Lubavich. Perhaps more importantly, our intrepid author illuminates just who these people are and why they are spending their Friday afternoons hanging outside the subway in Park Slope asking me, "And you Jewish? Do you need candles for Shabbat? Aug 27, Samuel Kordik rated it it was amazing.

This is a very thorough look at the people, lifestyles, beliefs, and structure of the Chabad Jewish movement.

The Rebbe’s Army

It is also a great example of what effective discipleship-driven missions could look like. Before reading this book, I had very little knowledge of Chabad—I knew it was a type of conservative, observant Jewish belief, and I had used Chabad. I did not realize the scope of the movement, nor did I realize the incredible levels of commitment, vision, and in This is a very thorough look at the people, lifestyles, beliefs, and structure of the Chabad Jewish movement.

On one level, this is just a well-written journalistic investigation into Chabad, filled with interesting people and anecdotes and spanning from the frontiers of Alaska to youth ministry in Bangkok to the halls of power in Washington, D. This book covers nearly every aspect of Chabad, including a brief summary of their history, how the organization operates, what its key beliefs are, and how it is structured and financed. It also addresses several key modern controversies, including the role of women and messianism within the movement.

On another level, this book showcases an incredibly effective evangelistic and discipleship outreach campaign driven by a love of God and a love for people. Chabad outreach is brash and outspoken yet aimed at reaching people where they are at and meeting the needs they are uniquely equipped to address. Missionaries demonstrate a high level of commitment, personal vision, and drive for the mission.

Becoming a missionary is held in high esteem. Assignments are as families and are permanent—they are moving into a community for life. Missionaries are expected to quickly become self-sustaining through fundraising and operations. This book was given to me with the recommendation to read it in view of the lessons it had for Christians as a model for effective missions and discipleship.


  1. .
  2. The Rebbe's Army: Inside The World Of Chabad-lubavitch - Sue Fishkoff - Google Книги.
  3. Stevens Salvation (Redemption Book 2)?
  4. .
  5. .

Sep 30, Matthew Taub rated it it was amazing. An exhaustive and surprisingly even-handed examination of the inner workings of "Schluchim," the worldwide emissaries Of Chabad-Lubavitch a form of Hasidic Judaism known for proactive outreach to less observant and unaffiliated Jews. By turns critical and praiseworthy, and covering all manner of topics from mikvahs to marketing to messianism, I found interesting insights here. A movement devoted to strict Jewish observance jettisons its most loyal followers to far-flung locales to spend their An exhaustive and surprisingly even-handed examination of the inner workings of "Schluchim," the worldwide emissaries Of Chabad-Lubavitch a form of Hasidic Judaism known for proactive outreach to less observant and unaffiliated Jews.

A movement devoted to strict Jewish observance jettisons its most loyal followers to far-flung locales to spend their time with mostly lax observers of the faith, and with little support other than emotional encouragement. The experience can be financially stressful, and--despite a constant stream of events, with many guests always coming and going--a bit lonely. The author shows how Chabad has helped fill a void where traditional institutions were lacking, from outreach to college students and Israeli tourists in east Asia, to public displays of Jewish pride think menorah lightings , to support and outreach programs for prisoners, addicts, and the developmentally challenged.

Still, criticism abounds, namely concerning efforts that are less outreach than "inreach," disrupting and dismantling existing Jewish institutions and congregations, and a messianic fervor involving the sect's late seventh Rabbi that is still ultimately unresolved, and compromises their appeal for many to this day.

I learned a great deal about Chabad which I had been very curious about. They are totally different from other Hasidic sects in their welcoming approach to all Jews, even non-observant ones. This book also reminded me that Jewish philosophy is the strata upon which western civilization was built. Sep 14, Miriam rated it it was amazing. Very well done and interesting.

Don't Forget the Non-Jewish Troops

Eminently readable and totally fascinating. Well worth the time to get a closer look and a better understanding of a community so enmeshed in Brooklyn. Feb 28, Nicola rated it really liked it. My children went to a Chabad-Lubavitch daycare so I wanted to learn more about the culture of the women who took care of them. Fishkoff offers an in-depth look at the history of the movement and the passion of those who live it.

She admits at the beginning that her book is a largely flattering portrait, and it is. The enthusiasm and dedication of the men and women who devote their lives to getting secular Jews to become more observant and, more importantly, do mitzvahs or good deeds, is really a My children went to a Chabad-Lubavitch daycare so I wanted to learn more about the culture of the women who took care of them. The enthusiasm and dedication of the men and women who devote their lives to getting secular Jews to become more observant and, more importantly, do mitzvahs or good deeds, is really admirable.

I would have liked to know more, however, about how the men and women who are not running Chabad houses in far-flung locales live their day-to-day lives and figure out how to raise large families in one of the most expensive cities in the world. Oct 21, Jonathan Meola rated it really liked it.

Interesting look at the growth of modern Chabad The shlichim emissaries who take on this challenge basically go into a community with not much more than a year's salary if that and have to hit the ground running. Others haven't quite reached that level of success yet, and a few emissaries have sadly had to abandon their efforts over the years.

Aug 19, Reb rated it really liked it Recommends it for: Nov 15, Laurel rated it really liked it. Well written and deeply interesting to me. I thought a lot, reading this, about community and faith and my own life. But it felt-- I don't know-- a little too generous. Seemed to skim over a lot of the ways in which a contemporary non-orthodox reader might be critical. Seemed to avoid engaging with questions. I kept finding myself wanting to join Chabad, and then pulling back and going, "Ummm, now, wait. We haven't talked about how one might be, say, GAY in that world. Or what if I wanted to wri Well written and deeply interesting to me.

Or what if I wanted to write secular books?


  • Ringing True.
  • Yohana;
  • Item Preview.
  • Inside the World of Chabad-Lubavitch.

    • Or what if I wanted to do the campus work, and have my husband raise 14 kids? And I learned a lot. The world of Chabad is fascinating to anyone who learns of the movement be they Jewish or not.

    My introduction to Chabad came upon meeting my now friend, Rabbi Dovid while in college. Though not Jewish myself, the Rabbi was always there to talk with me and work with me as I covered religious topics for the student newspaper. It was he who gave me this book as a thank you and acknowledgement of our time together and it served as another expression of his boundless generosity. Anyone who has met a The world of Chabad is fascinating to anyone who learns of the movement be they Jewish or not.

    Anyone who has met a Chabadnick should read this book to better understand their convictions and the source of their passion. Dec 26, Caitlin rated it really liked it. When I picked this up, I was expecting a critical view of Chabad and its shluchim. I was pleasantly surprised that Fishkoff openly admits her own very non-Chabad background, but still provides a balanced, thoughtful look at the group.

    Of course, some things she writes can't be said for all Chabadniks you will certainly meet Chabadniks who read popular fiction, or believe in evolution , even though it is portrayed that way for some aspects of their daily life. Regardless of your opinion on Chaba When I picked this up, I was expecting a critical view of Chabad and its shluchim. Regardless of your opinion on Chabad, Fishkoff presents the good and the bad in a manner that leaves no doubt as to why Chabad enjoys the worldwide reception it receives.

    Jan 05, Joel Kleehammer rated it really liked it Shelves: Who are these people? How successful are they in making Jews more observant? What influence does their late Rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schneerson who some thought was the Messiah , continue to have on his followers? Fishkoff spent a year interviewing Lubavitch emissaries from Anchorage to Miami and has written an engaging and fair-minded account of a Hasidic group whose motives and methodology continue to be the subject of speculation and controversy.

    From the Hardcover edition. For both the serious and casual observer of Jewish life, this is valuable reading. Fishkoff has brought the scattered shlichim indelibly together on the page. We can learn much both from the book and from the emissaries about whom she writes. I read it with interest and recommend it highly. Fishkoff intimately chronicles the life and work of the husband-and-wife emissaries of the late Rebbe: She reveals their inner struggles—even crises—and brings to life the unbelievable sacrifices they make.

    We are given the facts about this Jewish monastic-missionary movement but, more important, we are taken into the inner lives and commitments of its emissaries. Fishkoff makes us see and understand these passionate, caring, and loving people. For those who want to see what the appeal of Lubavitcher life is, and what makes these Hasidim so dedicated to their mission, this book is a good place to start. Also by Sue Fishkoff.