Editing Liozna (section)

== During the Time of the Alter Rebbe ==
In 1769, the town sought a person of stature to serve as the Maggid Meisharim of the town to inspire the public with his sermons, and appointed the Alter Rebbe to this position, who later also accepted the position of Mara D'asra.

When the Alter Rebbe came to settle in the city, he opened a yeshiva for young married men called 'Chadarim', and guided them in their studies, with his younger brothers helping him manage the yeshiva, which numbered about one hundred students.

While residing in Liozna, the Alter Rebbe established the approach of Chabad Chassidus and began to publicize his method throughout White Russia. Within several years, the Chassidic approach spread and inspired thousands of Jews who began flocking to Liozna. The Alter Rebbe's time became limited, and he could no longer continue serving in the rabbinical position, so he asked the community leadership to appoint another rabbi in his place, while stipulating that questions regarding tumah and taharah would continue to be directed to him.

In 1777, the Alter Rebbe joined [[Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk|Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Horodok]]'s journey to ascend to the Holy Land, but when the convoy reached Mohilev, Rabbi Menachem Mendel instructed him to stay and lead the Chassidic movement in White Russia. He returned to Vilna, with the city's residents taking upon themselves the expenses of maintaining his household and hosting the guests who would come to receive instructions and guidance in serving Hashem.

After the Alter Rebbe's arrest in 1799, the Russian government wanted to force him to live in Petersburg to monitor his movements, but through the influence of the Poritz who ruled over the Lyady district, he received government permission to move his residence to Lyady, and he relocated there with his entire family and many of his chassidim.