Editing Reb Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk (section)

== The Alter Rebbe and Reb Menachem Mendel ==
After the Maggid's passing, the Alter Rebbe was his chassid for a time and signed a hiskashrus to him. He stayed with Reb Menachem Mendel alongside his friend and former teacher, Reb Yissachar Ber of Lubavitch.

When R' Menachem Nachum of Chernobyl asked the Alter Rebbe about Reb Mendel's powers, the Alter Rebbe explained that Reb Mendel could know everyone's thoughts, their lifetime of thoughts, and even all thoughts that had occurred or would occur in any house he entered - which greatly impressed R' Nachum.

In 1776, Reb Menachem Mendel appointed the Alter Rebbe as leader of the chassidim in Russia.

In 1777, he traveled with the Alter Rebbe to Vilna to explain Chassidus to the Vilna Gaon, who refused to meet them. Due to growing opposition, he decided to avoid conflict by making aliyah. The Alter Rebbe joined the group but was convinced to stay near the Dnieper River to lead the chassidim in Belarus and Lithuania.