Editing The Alter Rebbe (section)

== The founding of Chassidus Chabad ==
'''Expanded Entry''' – ''The Founding of Chabad Chassidus''

When the Alter Rebbe returned from Mezritch for the first time, he shared that the Maggid revealed to him that one of his missions in this world was to reveal the teachings of Chabad Chassidus. In the year 5532 (1772), as the Russians took control of the Vitebsk and Liozna regions from the Poles, the Alter Rebbe founded the Chabad Chassidic path—serving Hashem with ''Chochmah'', ''Binah'', and ''Daas'' (wisdom, understanding, and knowledge).

Following the dissemination of this approach by the Alter Rebbe and his emissaries, hundreds of young scholars joined the movement. At the Alter Rebbe's side in the founding of Chabad stood his brother, Reb Yehudah Leib Posner. Over the next four years, Chabad Chassidus spread among hundreds of additional elevated individuals. After the passing of the Maggid of Mezritch and the departure of Reb Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk (the most prominent disciple) to Eretz Yisrael, the leadership of Chassidus in Lithuania transitioned to the Alter Rebbe. By the year 5540 (1780), Chabad Chassidim numbered approximately 15,000 families throughout Russia.

During this time (5532/1772), the Alter Rebbe advocated that the Jews residing in the city of Vitebsk should relocate across the border into Russian territory.