Editing The Town of Shchedrin (section)

== History of the Town ==

==== The Background ====
The leaders of Chabad Chassidus throughout the generations engaged in improving the material condition of Jews, and encouraged many of them to leave the large cities and live in settlements and earn their livelihood from working the land.

In the years preceding 5598 (1838), the Russian Czar issued a call for Jews to engage in agricultural work, which provided additional incentive for Jews to move to villages and settlements. The Rebbe Tzemach Tzedek realized this potential and began to establish a Jewish settlement for Chabad chassidim who would engage in manual labor.

==== Establishment of the Settlement ====
The area of the town of Shchedrin was purchased by the Rebbe [[The Tzemach Tzedek|Tzemach Tzedek]] in 5599 (1839) from Prince Shchedrinov, and was named after him.

After purchasing the land, the Rebbe Tzemach Tzedek encouraged his chassidim to move to live in the Jewish settlement, providing financial support to families, giving them tools to help them work the agricultural fields of the settlement, and established a special committee to manage the affairs of the residents. In 5602 (1842), Jewish settlement actually began there.

What was unique about this settlement was that all its residents were Chabad chassidim, and according to the directive of the Rebbe Tzemach Tzedek, there were special times during the year when all residents took a break of several days from work and sat to engage in learning.

The Jewish settlement was very successful, the residents succeeded in their work and enjoyed economic abundance, and the Russian government appreciated the Tzemach Tzedek's activity in this matter. In 5602 (1842), they awarded him a certificate of "Honored Citizen for Generations."

Most of the town's land did not remain under the ownership of the Rebbe Tzemach Tzedek, but was transferred to the names of the town's residents without payment. Through the Tzemach Tzedek's efforts, the residents received additional government benefits, which included a long-term loan that they repaid by paying percentage of the crops they grew.

The Tzemach Tzedek sold the forested area of the settlement to one of the wealthy chassidim from the town of Bobruisk, and the money he received from the sale was sent to establish [[Colel Chabad|Kollel Chabad]].