Tree of light: Chabad spreading branches throughout suburbs

A branch of Hasidic Judaism, with roots in 18th century Eastern Europe, is spreading throughout the Chicago suburbs and reaching places one might not normally associate with Judaism.

The Chabad-Lubavitch movement is popping up in Schaumburg, Hinsdale, Libertyville, Lake Zurich and Vernon Hills.

Its growth can be traced to a philosophy that transcends denominational boundaries and seeks out and embraces Jews worldwide.

The movement puts Judaism front and center, reaching out to Jews wherever they may be and helping them connect with their tradition and practice, such as donning tefillin, the pair of black leather boxes containing Hebrew parchment scrolls worn during prayer.

The movement is attracting people like Long Grove resident Steve Cohen, who attends the Chabad Jewish Center of Vernon Hills, and credits the center and its rabbi for reinvigorating his spirituality.

“I never had a rabbi that brought so much inspiration in my life than Rabbi Shimmy Susskind,” he said. “He basically changed my life in so many good ways.”

The outward-looking approach can be traced to Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, who assumed leadership of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement in 1951 and led until his death in 1994. From his base in Brooklyn, New York’s Crown Heights neighborhood, he inspired emissaries to turn Chabad into a global movement.

“One of the things the Rebbe taught us is a good salesman is not sitting in his office waiting for customers to come. He is going out to find the sales,” said Rabbi Shmuel Katz, executive director of the Northwest Suburban Chabad in Vernon Township. “Every Chabad rabbi goes out to find Jews out there.”

Katz has seen the growth in his area. When he established his Chabad 36 years ago, there were only about five in the area. There are now more than 50 in the state.

Meir Moscowitz, regional director of Lubavitch Chabad of Illinois and senior rabbi of Lubavitch Chabad of Northbrook, explains Chabad is an acronym meaning wisdom, understanding and knowledge. Lubavitch comes from the town of Lyubavichi in present-day Russia, where the movement was once based.

The movement embraces all Jews, regardless of how they practice.

“When we connect with each other on a soul level, we suddenly realize how much we are connected and we are one. Our job is to ignite the soul,” Moscowitz said.

Education is paramount.

“The study of Judaism is core to Jewish connection, and therefore we put a tremendous effort in education. But it’s presented to everyone according to their level. We have the largest network of Hebrew schools in the state,” Moscowitz said.

The Chabad-Lubavitch movement was founded about 250 years ago in what is now Belarus. There are now about 5,000 Chabad houses around the world, from Missoula, Montana to Morocco.

Moscowitz’s father, Daniel Moscowitz, co-founded the first Chabad House in Illinois in Evanston in the late 1970s.

The centers offer spiritual guidance, events and social support, all while maintaining the individual flavor of each community.

Chabad centers are not funded centrally, said Rabbi Yaakov Kotlarsky, who opened a Chabad center in Arlington Heights.

“Every single Chabad house is sustained and funded by the local community and by the fundraising efforts of that individual branch,” Kotlarsky said. “There is some skin in the game from the community to make sure this is a viable place for Chabad to be. It’s almost like a grass-roots effort.”

Public events are an important way for Chabad rabbis to connect with Jews and get them excited about their religion.

Kotlarsky also presides over the annual Hanukkah menorah lighting at North School Park in Arlington Heights. In the days leading up to Passover, he took part in “The Great Matzah Bake-Off” at the Arlington Heights Historical Museum.

Visibility, however, comes at a risk during a time of rising antisemitism. Among those killed in the deadly Hanukkah attack at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, was Chabad Rabbi Eli Schlanger.

Chabad leaders have responded by increasing the movement’s visibility — balancing caution with the determination to proudly and publicly celebrate Jewish identity.

“We can’t give a message that we’re hiding, telling the bad guys that they’re being successful,” Moscowitz said. “We have to be safe, but we also have to be proud of who we are.”

Last month, the Vernon Hills Chabad hosted Judith Raanan, who was one of the 251 hostages taken during the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks in Israel.

“We wanted someone to speak about staying strong in their Judaism, even when faced with tremendous challenges,” said Susskind, director of the Vernon Hills Chabad.

Moscowitz said he sees more growth ahead for Chabad.

“There are more and more Jews looking for meaning, for purpose, for connectivity, and that's what we provide,” he said.