I’m curious if Chabad is considered a high-control group. I work at a Jewish organization that’s part of Chabad, and their main focus is reaching out to Jews who might be less connected to their heritage. They believe that uniting all Jews is essential for redemption, which drives their mission.
Chabad has many positive aspects, and part of my job involves summarizing content from their website, so I read a lot of it. However, I’ve felt uneasy about some things. For example, the website sometimes suggests that non-Jews, like myself, aren’t as trustworthy as fellow Jews, who are seen as inherently connected according to the Torah. It also emphasizes caution about secularism. While I understand the historical context of antisemitism, the tone sometimes seems to generalize non-Jews as disliking Jews, which could encourage Chabad members to feel ostracized. If the message is “everyone outside is against us,” it might discourage members from engaging with people outside the community.
I understand the historical and religious reasons behind this, but I worry it might lead to unnecessary divisions and mistrust of non-Jews. I’ve also noticed that only men can become rabbis in Chabad, which gives them more authority and respect. I recognize that becoming a rabbi requires a deep knowledge of Jewish law and tradition, but this creates a gender gap in religious authority and general community respect. It often feels like men’s opinions are valued more unless a woman’s opinion is supported by a rabbi. Despite this, I’ve seen many vocal Jewish women, so they are not entirely subdued.
While Chabad has many positive teachings, I sometimes sense a subtle, often meant to be loving, pressure to follow certain guidelines, with praise for doing so. I’m not saying it’s a cult, but I’m wondering if this is just how Chabad operates or if it might fit the description of a high-control group. Any thoughts?
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