Congregation Lubavitch
Chabad organization in New York City
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Congregation Lubavitch a.k.a. Congregation Lubavitch Inc. (CLI) is a Chabad organization consisting of the gabboim (synagogue trustees) of the primary synagogue and Chabad world headquarters, 770 Eastern Parkway.[1][2] As of 2024, the Gabboim are Rabbi Avrohom Holtzberg, Rabbi Zalman Lipsker, and Rabbi Yosef Losh.[3][4] The gabboim are responsible for organizing tefilah (prayer services) for the congregants as well as maintaining financial affairs including selling assigned seating for Jewish holidays and Shabbats.[5][6][7][8] The organization is Meshichist, or affiliated with Chabad Messaniasim, which is in contrast to the mainstream Chabad establishment organizations.[9][10][11]
Congregation Lubavitch Inc. | |
 | |
| Abbreviation | CLI |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Gabboim of 770 |
| Type | 501(c)(3) organization |
| Headquarters | 770 Eastern Parkway |
| Location | |
Official language | English, Hebrew |
Gabboim | Avrohom Holtzberg, Zalman Lipsker, Yosef Losh |
| Affiliations | Chabad |
| Website | https://www.770shul.org/ |
History
In June 2010, the Gabboim were ordered by a New York judge to transfer the control of the shul to Agudas Chassidei Chabad and Merkos L’inyonei Chinuch, the central organizations of Chabad.[12]
In 2010, Congregation Lubavitch reinstalled a disputed (Even HaPinah) Cornerstone plaque.[13]
Following the New York City synagogue tunnel incident, on January 12, 2024, Congregation Lubavitch announced that repairs has been completed and that 770 would open for Shabbat services. They announced a new overnight closure policy for security and a new set of rules that all attendees must agree to abide by.[3]
On January 14, 2024, the Gabboim published a letter forbidding bochurim from participating in the Shvil (path) ritual. During the Rebbe's lifetime, a pathway was created to allow him to enter and exit 770. The creation of a Shvil post the rebbe's death has become a controversial Meshichist ritual in which followers open up a path in the crowd for the deceased rebbe to spiritually walk through. [4][14][15][16]
On January 19th 2024, an Appellate Court hearing the case of Agudas Chasidei Chabad v Congregation Lubavitch returned it's verdict reaffirming Agudas Chasidei Chabad's control of all buildings associated with 770 Eastern Parkway with the exception of the synagogue itself, which they reversed a previous courts decision and gave to the Gabboim saying that they could not be evicted.[17][18][19][20][21]