a branch of Hasidism, which itself is a very orthodox movement of Judaism; founded 1798 in Lyubavichi, Belarus, by Rabbi Schneur Zalmon; led by a succession of rabbis, all outstanding scholars of the Torah; seventh rabbi was Menachem Schneerson (born 1902) of Brooklyn, N.Y.; known for definite political, as well as religious, views and strong influence on Israeli politics; worldwide membership about 250,000 in 1993; operates more than 1,300 Hebrew schools (yeshivas), synagogues, and meeting places, as well as drug rehabilitation clinics.