The Lubavitch Cometh

Jews don't evangelize among members of other religions (yet), but some Jewish groups do evangelize among other Jews.

The biggest such group are the Lubavitchers who seek to convert all other Jews to their brand of ultra-orthodox Judaism. They even send out families to various places around the world in order to set up shop near other Jews.

Two years after arriving in Peoria, Langsam and his wife, Sarah, two members of what has become known as "the Rebbe's Army," have firmly established a Lubavitch Chabad beach head in downstate Illinois.

They have started a preschool, a summer camp, and monthly classes for both mixed audiences and women only.

They hold special seasonal events, such as the recent "Shofar Factory," at which participants learned how to fashion their own shofars from a goat's horn for use during the Jewish High Holidays, which start at sundown Friday with Rosh Hashanah.

They invite Jews to their house for Sabbath meals on Fridays and go to their homes for private lessons.

They meet with students at area colleges.

They help Jews clean and prepare their homes so they fit with orthodox understanding of being kosher.

The Langsams are most proud of the mikveh, or ritual bath, that they have built, providing downstate Jewish women a more convenient location in which to become ritually clean after their menstrual period or after giving birth.

"We are the first Chabad center in central Illinois," he said. A new one is being opened in Champaign.

Eli and Sarah Langsam are among thousands of other Hasidic Jews who are members of the Lubavitch sect continuing the effort of the late Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson to spread orthodox Jewish observance around the world in an attempt to bring the messiah's arrival closer.

"They try to get one more Jewish person to do one more Jewish thing," said Peorian Laura Kessler, who attends Chabad functions.

Emissaries, or schlichim, of Chabad head out to areas with isolated Jewish populations, like Peoria, and start programs and relationships aimed at increasing traditional Jewish practice.

There are currently more than 4,000 families serving 2,700 Chabad centers around the world. Rather than waning after the 1994 death of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the fundamental inspiration behind Chabad, the movement has actually picked up speed.

The "Rebbe's Army" is coming to a town near you, if they haven't already arrived! Here is a brief list of current places of worship. United States: TX, NJ, NC, IL, WI, FL, TN, PA, NY, CT, AZ, VA, WA, and many more; Outside US: Britain, Canada, China, Japan, and many more.

The "Rebbe" has even arrived at MySpace. Want to know what is written in the Jewish Talmud? Come and Hear! Want to know what the "Rebbe's Army" has in store for goyim? Read and Learn. Chabad Lubavitch will arrive in your town, soon. Perhaps it is best to begin studying what is expected of you?

[2Ti 2:15-19,23,25-26] Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. [16] But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. [17] And their [words] will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; [18] Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. [19] Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. [23] [Avoid] foolish and unlearned questions, knowing that they do engender strifes. [25] [Calmly] instructing those that oppose themselves; if God [perchance] will give them repentance [for acknowledgment] of the truth; [26] That they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.