Colel Chabad

Colel Chabad (Hebrew: כולל חב"ד) was founded in Lithuania in 1788 and is the oldest continuously operating charity in Israel.

[1] The institution runs a network of soup kitchens and food banks, dental and medical clinics, daycare centers, widow and orphan support, and immigrant assistance programs.

[2] Colel Chabad presently operates 19 soup kitchens in Israel: 3 in Jerusalem, 3 in Safed, 4 in Ashdod, 4 in Lod, and one each in Ashkelon, Beersheva, Dimona, Ramle, and Yerucham.

[10] Colel Chabad offers absorption services, job counseling, senior programs, a library and an evening yeshiva for Russian immigrants in Jerusalem.

[13] In 1991, Colel Chabad began organizing mass bar mitzvahs for Russian immigrants to Israel who had not been able to keep Jewish traditions in their homeland.

[5] The annual event for 1,000 Russian-immigrant boys and girls takes place at the Western Wall in the presence of government officials, Chief Rabbis and other dignitaries.

[15] The various free-loan funds operated by Colel Chabad address the financial needs of widows and orphans, newlyweds, small-business owners, and shluchim to the Former Soviet Union who wish to purchase a home there.

According to media reports, Colel Chabad was the main charity supported by Sholom Rubashkin, who donated millions of dollars from profits earned by his now-bankrupt company, Agriprocessors.

[22] One year after the Simchat Torah terrorist attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, Debbie and Michael Flacks have given a $5 million donation to erect a new center dedicated to promoting community service and acts of kindness.