Topic Wiki

Search directory for thousands of official Chabad Houses: https://www.chabad.org/centers

Unofficial Chabad Houses:

US:
AZ
Congregation Beth Tefillah, Scottsdale
Orot Israeli Center, Scottsdale

CA
The Marina Shul, Venice, CA
JEM Community Center, Beverly Hills
Beth Menachem, Los Angeles
Congregation Chevra Thilim, S. Francisco (This will not show up on Chabad.org results if you do a search for SF)
Schneerson Center, S. Francisco
Almaden Valley Torah Center, S. Jose
Chai Center, S. Monica, CA
Westwood Jewish Center
Chabad of UCSD

CO
Colorado Springs
Chabad of Cherry Creek, Denver

CT
Beth Israel - Chabad, Norwalk, CT - (not a Chabad house but a regular shul that davens Nusach Ari) (Nearby Official Chabad House Search)
Cong. Mishkan Israel Trumbull, CT

DC
Chabad of GWU

FL
Downtown Jewish Center - Chabad, Ft Lauderdale
Chabad Palm Beach, FL
Palm Beach Synagogue, FL
Moshiach Center, Lauderhill, FL
Chabad Of Central Florida, Tampa
Young Israel of Tampa
Chabad of Downtown Tampa

HI
Maui Kosher Farm/Kosher On Maui (Nearby official Chabad)

IL
Moshiach Center, Chicago
Chabad Springfield, IL

KS
Torah Learning Center, Overland Park, KS (Nearby official Chabad House)

LA
Anshe Sfard New Orleans

MA
Chai Center/Chabad of Canton
Chabad of Westborough

MN
Adath Israel Synagogue, S. Paul

NJ
Chabad Rutgers, New Brunswick NJ(/ Chabad of Central NJ)
Bris Avrohom of Fairlawn
Bris Avrohom - Cong. Shomrei Torah, Hillside, NJ
Cong. Sons of Israel - Chabad, Jersey City
Maplewood Jewish Center
Center for Jewish Life, Marlboro, NJ
Chabad Monroe Township, NJ
Chabad of Greater Monmouth - Congregation Sons of Israel, Ocean Township, NJ
Congregation Beth Shalom Red Bank, NJ
Shabbat House, West Orange, NJ

NY
Chabad Jewish Discovery Center, Buffalo, NY
Center for Jewish Life, Buffalo, NY
Chabad of Orange County, Goshen, NY
Chabad of Mid-Hudson Valley, Poughkeepsie, NY
Syracuse Jewish Student Association, Syracuse, NY
Chabad of Marine Park
Chabad of Mill Basin
The Iyyun Center, Park Slope
New York Synagogue & Torah Center, NYC
The Manhattan Kollel
The Torah Center, NYC
Beth Chabad Francais, NYC
The Plainview Synagogue, Plainview, NY
Bukharian Jewish Community Center, Queens, NY
Center for Jewish Life - Chabad, Sag Harbor, NY
Jewish Russian Learning Center, Staten Island, NY
West Hempstead Synagogue Zichron Kedoshim, West Hempstead, NY

OH
Cleveland/Beachwood
There seems to be a few Chabad Houses/shuls in the Cincinnati area listed here.

PA
Chabad of the Pocono Mountains
Baal Shem Tov Shul Pittsburgh
Kesser Torah Pittsburgh (Nearby official Chabad)


WA
Island Synagogue - Cong. Shevet Achim, Mercer Island

Australia:
Gold Coast, Queensland
Surfers Paradise - Gold Coast, Queensland Rabbi is official, shul is not.

Ohr Chadash - Coogee Synagogue Coogee, NSW
Cremorne Synagogue Neutral Bay, NSW
Newtown Synagogue Newtown, NSW
Byron Bay, NSW
Tzemach Tzedek Community Centre, Sydney

Belguim:
Euroean Jewish Community Centre, Brussels

Belize:
Belize City There are no official Chabads in Belize.

Bolivia:
La Paz There are no official Chabads in Bolivia.

Brazil:
Bayit Jewish Center
Kehilat Knesset Israel
Mt Sinai Cong.

Canada:
Cong. House Of Israel, Ste-Agathe-des-Monts, Québec
Ohel Yaakov Community Kollel, Vancouver, BC

Ontario:
Cong. Shaarei Torah, Toronto
Maon Noam Jewish Cultural and Educational Network, 4 locations around Toronto
Jewish Russian Community Centre, Woodbridge
Chabad Of Georgina

England
Chabad Community Centre-Beis Moshiach, London

Ethiopia:
Addis Ababa There are no official Chabads in Ethiopia.

Guatemala:
Pedro (Nearby official Chabad House)

India
18 Unofficial Chabad Houses (Official Chabad in Bangalore and Mumbai)


Indonesia:
Chabad of Bali  There are no official Chabads in Indonesia.

Italy:
Chabad of Bologna There are no official Chabads in Bologna.
Chabad of Florence (Nearby official Chabad House)
Chabad of Venice There are no official Chabads in Venice.

Japan:
Kyoto (The nearby official Chabad House is no longer operational)
Tokyo (Nearby official Chabad House)

Kenya:
Nairobi  There are no official Chabads in Kenya.

Mexico:
Cozumel
Cristobal
Isla Mujeres
Mexico City
Playa del Carmen (Nearby official Chabad House)
Tulum

Namibia

Nicaragua
San Juan Del Sur  There are no official Chabads in Nicaragua.

Panama:
Bocas del Toro

Philippines
Boracay
Cebu
Clark
El Nido
Manila 
Siargao
There are no official Chabads in the Philippines.

Saudi Arabia

Sri Lanka
Colombo There are no official Chabads in Sri Lanka.
Hikkaduwa

Turkey:
Official, but unlisted for safety reasons. Email rabbi@rabbimendy.com

UAE:
Dubai Now official.

Ukraine:
The Brodsky Choral Synagogue, Kiev
Tehillat Hashem Synagogue, Anatevka, Ukraine

Author Topic: Master List Of Unofficial Chabad Houses  (Read 27379 times)

Offline Dan

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Master List Of Unofficial Chabad Houses
« on: April 01, 2019, 10:20:01 AM »
A new Chabad opened in Kyoto, but there has been some sort of Chabad there for some time I think. Without getting too political, how does it work that Chabad does or doesn't officially recognize a shaloch as being "official"? Is it about paperwork or is there something more fundemental? Should one be more concerned about kasharus from an unofficial Chabad vs an official Chabad?

Official Chabad Houses are listed here: https://www.chabad.org/centers

Unofficial ones don't open with permission from the local head shliach and/or Chabad HQ, anyone can just open one.

Sometimes Chabad Houses might be unofficial due to a falling out with the local head shliach over a myriad of other reasons.

Other times unofficial ones are runs by outspoken meshichists with yellow moshiach flags, yechi signs, etc. While perhaps misguided, there is plenty of halachic basis for those beliefs that have been hashed over in other threads and I wouldn't have a problem eating their food. Though I'd still ask them some basic kashrus questions to make sure they're not a total farce who opened up shop.

When AJK and I were in Japan we ate at a felafel restaurant run by Rabbi Edery, the "yellow flag" unofficial Chabad in Tokyo. Another diner asked where we would be for Shabbos, by the regular Chabad House or the 2 scoops Chabad House?

We asked, "2 scoops?"

To which he responded, you know like the 2 scoops of Raisins in Raisin Bran? Well Rabbi Edery runs the 2 scoops of moshiach yellow flag Chabad House in Tokyo.

« Last Edit: April 01, 2019, 10:34:07 AM by Dan »
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Offline shaulyaakov

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Re: Unofficial Chabad Houses (Yellow Flag/2 Scoops/Etc)
« Reply #1 on: April 01, 2019, 10:21:48 AM »
Official Chabad Houses are listed here: https://www.chabad.org/centers

Unofficial ones don't open with permission from the local head shliach and/or Chabad HQ, anyone can just open one.

Typically, though not always, unofficial ones are runs by outspoken meshichists with yellow moshiach flags, yechi signs, etc. While perhaps misguided, there is plenty of halachic basis for their beliefs and I wouldn't have a problem eating their food. Though I'd still ask them some basic kashrus questions to make sure they're not a total farce who opened up shop.

Other times Chabad Houses might be unofficial due to a falling out with the local head shliach over a myriad of other reasons.
Are yellow flags specific to unofficial ones? I've been to plenty of what I presume to be official ones that have that (Venice, for example). Isn't Chabad HQ divided on that particular question?

Offline Dan

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Re: Unofficial Chabad Houses (Yellow Flag/2 Scoops/Etc)
« Reply #2 on: April 01, 2019, 10:24:43 AM »
Are yellow flags specific to unofficial ones? I've been to plenty of what I presume to be official ones that have that (Venice, for example). Isn't Chabad HQ divided on that particular question?
They opened before the Rebbe passed away. I'm not aware of new official Yellow Flag Chabad Houses that opened after 1994, but it's possible there are a couple.
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Offline ckmk47

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Re: Unofficial Chabad Houses (Yellow Flag/2 Scoops/Etc)
« Reply #3 on: April 01, 2019, 10:36:00 AM »
CFY-consolidated for you.
Official Chabad Houses are listed here: https://www.chabad.org/centers

Unofficial ones don't open with permission from the local head shliach and/or Chabad HQ, anyone can just open one.

Sometimes Chabad Houses might be unofficial due to a falling out with the local head shliach over a myriad of other reasons.
"Mushroom" Chabad houses spring up on their own.  To the 'customer', they are often indistiguishable from regular Chabad houses.
My favorite cause: cssy.org

Offline Dan

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Re: Master List Of Unofficial Chabad Houses
« Reply #4 on: April 01, 2019, 10:51:39 AM »
Wiki started, please add the ones you know of!
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Offline shaulyaakov

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Re: Master List Of Unofficial Chabad Houses
« Reply #5 on: April 01, 2019, 10:57:48 AM »
Does Chabad have any intellectual property rights they enforce? For example, any shul that's "YI of xyx" has to be part of the Young Israel, which would give the "customer" a reasonable expectation on Nussach and Hashkafah (within a certain ballpark).

Offline sholom35

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Re: Master List Of Unofficial Chabad Houses
« Reply #6 on: April 01, 2019, 08:17:17 PM »
I think there is a beis chabad on caye cayker.  http://beismoshiachmagazine.org/articles/shluchim-activities-and-miracles-in-belize.html.      I cant find it on the official list......

Offline tmendy226

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Re: Master List Of Unofficial Chabad Houses
« Reply #7 on: April 01, 2019, 08:17:29 PM »
I’m not sure who put zirkind from Maui in the wiki but he said clearly many times that he’s not and. Not trying to be a shliach. He’s just a Jew who wants to have a kosher Jewish farm. He would not want to be on this (black) list

Offline Dan

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Re: Master List Of Unofficial Chabad Houses
« Reply #8 on: April 01, 2019, 08:24:21 PM »
I’m not sure who put zirkind from Maui in the wiki but he said clearly many times that he’s not and. Not trying to be a shliach. He’s just a Jew who wants to have a kosher Jewish farm. He would not want to be on this (black) list
I don't think of this as a blacklist at all. It's very helpful to know which other options there are besides for what Chabad.org has listed.
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline Dan

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Re: Master List Of Unofficial Chabad Houses
« Reply #9 on: April 01, 2019, 08:29:15 PM »
I think there is a beis chabad on caye cayker.  http://beismoshiachmagazine.org/articles/shluchim-activities-and-miracles-in-belize.html.      I cant find it on the official list......
Added, thanks.
Keep em coming.
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Offline tmendy226

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Re: Master List Of Unofficial Chabad Houses
« Reply #10 on: April 01, 2019, 08:30:06 PM »
I don't think of this as a blacklist at all. It's very helpful to know which other options there are besides for what Chabad.org has listed.

It depends on your perspective, but many lubavitchers would’nt want to be on this list... including him to the best of my knowledge

Offline shaulyaakov

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Re: Master List Of Unofficial Chabad Houses
« Reply #11 on: April 01, 2019, 08:30:57 PM »
There's a quasi Chabad shteeble in Albany NY.

Offline Dan

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Re: Master List Of Unofficial Chabad Houses
« Reply #12 on: April 01, 2019, 08:31:48 PM »
It depends on your perspective, but many lubavitchers would’nt want to be on this list... including him to the best of my knowledge
OK, removed.
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Offline whYME

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Re: Master List Of Unofficial Chabad Houses
« Reply #13 on: April 01, 2019, 09:02:26 PM »
I'm trying to decide if I want to jump into this thread but meanwhile, the major mistake (some might say Freudian slip ) in the wiki is quite hilarious.

Offline joey89

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Re: Master List Of Unofficial Chabad Houses
« Reply #14 on: April 01, 2019, 09:23:33 PM »
Without getting into an ideological discussion.

Many (most?) of these Chabad houses are located in remote geographical locations where it would be hard to create a feasible sustainability plan (partially the reason for there not being official Chabad centers). The young families that chose to move there face many challenges. They are very far (usually 12+ hr flight) from any family, many of them live several hours from another religious person, many of the women need to fly several hours just to go to Mikva, etc. They nevertheless relocated their entire family, live in poverty, have very hard times getting Kosher chicken/meat (many of them learn to shecht), have to teach their children without any other children being educated similarly....
All this is in order to prevent 1000’s of searching Jews (many ex IDF) from falling into serving Avodah Zorah Mammosh while on their spiritual quests.

This is literal Mesiras Nefesh for the spiritual benefit of someone they do not know.
Many 1000’s of backpackers have returned to their Jewish routes thanks to these families.


Offline Dan

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Re: Master List Of Unofficial Chabad Houses
« Reply #15 on: April 01, 2019, 09:41:05 PM »
Without getting into an ideological discussion.

Many (most?) of these Chabad houses are located in remote geographical locations where it would be hard to create a feasible sustainability plan (partially the reason for there not being official Chabad centers). The young families that chose to move there face many challenges. They are very far (usually 12+ hr flight) from any family, many of them live several hours from another religious person, many of the women need to fly several hours just to go to Mikva, etc. They nevertheless relocated their entire family, live in poverty, have very hard times getting Kosher chicken/meat (many of them learn to shecht), have to teach their children without any other children being educated similarly....
All this is in order to prevent 1000’s of searching Jews (many ex IDF) from falling into serving Avodah Zorah Mammosh while on their spiritual quests.

This is literal Mesiras Nefesh for the spiritual benefit of someone they do not know.
Many 1000’s of backpackers have returned to their Jewish routes thanks to these families.


This thread is a helpful resource for people to know that they're out there and why they're out there, it's not for ideological discussion.

And I'm sure many do amazing work.

At the same time, there is a system that the Rebbe set up for Shlichus, and they are working around it. If they wanted to go about it in an official manner and without the yellow flags, many could have done that.
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Re: Master List Of Unofficial Chabad Houses
« Reply #16 on: April 01, 2019, 09:46:51 PM »
Does Chabad have any intellectual property rights they enforce? For example, any shul that's "YI of xyx" has to be part of the Young Israel, which would give the "customer" a reasonable expectation on Nussach and Hashkafah (within a certain ballpark).
Only ip rights I am aware of is the Kehos logo (and possibly Rabbi Mangel’s English translation of the Siddur), both of which are owned by Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch IINM.

In Israel some people tried to claim rights to the name Chabad and/or Chabad House, but their claim was summarily rejected.
I've been waiting over 5 years with bated breath for someone to say that!
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Offline joey89

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Re: Master List Of Unofficial Chabad Houses
« Reply #17 on: April 01, 2019, 09:50:58 PM »
This thread is a helpful resource for people to know that they're out there and why they're out there, it's not for ideological discussion.

And I'm sure many do amazing work.

At the same time, there is a system that the Rebbe set up for Shlichus, and they are working around it. If they wanted to go about it in an official manner and without the yellow flags, many could have done that.

Agree with (almost) everything you wrote. (Which is why I didn't want to get into an ideological discussion)
My post was just to illustrate to those unfamiliar, that these are extremely dedicated and sincere people who can be a valuable resource while traveling. And that they should not be viewed as a offshoot sect that don’t adhere to Chabad standards and customs.

Offline Zalc

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Re: Master List Of Unofficial Chabad Houses
« Reply #18 on: April 02, 2019, 12:05:40 AM »
Central America (already in wiki)

Offline G11600

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Re: Master List Of Unofficial Chabad Houses
« Reply #19 on: April 02, 2019, 03:13:49 AM »
Added, thanks.
Keep em coming.

It's not in Belize City (as added) but in Caye Caulker, an island off the coast (plane/ferry ride)