Editing The Maggid of Mezritch (section)

== Leader of Chassidus ==
After the passing of the Baal Shem Tov, his son Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch was appointed as his successor. However, Chassidus needed a strong leader of great stature who could firmly stand against the opponents, and Rabbi Tzvi wasn't quite suited for this role.

On the second day of [[Shavuos]] - 7 Sivan 5521, one year after the Baal Shem Tov's histalkus, Rabbi Tzvi stood during his holy tisch (table gathering) with most of his father's disciples present, and said that his father had instructed him in a dream to transfer the leadership of Chassidus to his great disciple R' DovBer of Mezritch. While speaking, R' Tzvi blessed the Maggid with mazel tov, removed his upper garment that had belonged to his father the Baal Shem Tov. He vacated his place at the head of the table, went to sit like all other disciples at the table, and the Maggid moved to sit at the head. Then he delivered his first discourse beginning with the words "Mareihem U'maaseihem."

Rabbi DovBer, unlike the Baal Shem Tov who would travel from place to place, settled in Mezritch and from there sent his great disciples to spread Chassidus throughout Poland and beyond. By 5525, three major Chassidic centers were already established outside of Mezritch under his disciples' leadership: in Lubavitch (led by Rabbi Yissachar Ber of Lubavitch), in Karlin (led by Rabbi Aharon of Karlin and Rabbi Shlomo of Karlin), and in Horodok (led by Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk).

The Maggid greatly desired to make aliyah to [[Eretz Yisroel|Eretz Yisrael]] but was prevented from Heaven.

In 5532, a severe plague broke out in Mezritch. R' Zusha of Anipoli, the Maggid's disciple, brought the Maggid and his household to Anipoli. There the Maggid lived for about seven months until his histalkus on 19 Kislev 5533.
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