Editing The Rebbe (section)

==== Activities Toward Accepting Leadership ====
''Extended article - [[The Rebbe Accepting The Nesius|The Rebbe's Acceptance of Leadership]]''

After 10 Shevat 5710 (1950), when news spread of the passing of the Previous Rebbe (Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn), the Chassidim began discussing the need to appoint his son-in-law, the Rebbe (then known as "The RaMaSh"), as his successor.

Extensive activity was undertaken by Chassidim worldwide to encourage the Rebbe to accept the leadership. The activity was led by prominent Chassidim across the globe:

===== In the United States: =====
* [[Rabbi Eliyahu Yeichil-Simpson|Rabbi Eliyahu Simpson]] - Gabbai of the Previous Rebbe
* Rabbi Israel Jacobson - Leader of Agudas Chassidei Chabad
* [[Rabbi Shneur Zalman Gurary]]
* Rabbi Shmuel Zalmanov
* Rabbi Shmuel Levitin - The Mashpia
* Rabbi Shlomo Aaron Kazarnovsky
* Rabbi DovBer Haskin
* Rabbi Meir Ashkenazi - Rabbi of Shanghai

===== In the Holy Land: =====
* Rabbi Eliezer Karasik - Chairman of Agudas Chassidei Chabad in the Holy Land
* Rabbi Moshe Gurary - Director of Agudas Chassidei Chabad
* Rabbi Shmerel Gurary
* Rabbi Avraham Paris
* Rabbi Shlomo Yosef Zevin
* Rabbi Avraham Chein
* Rabbi Avraham Chaim Na'eh

===== In Europe: =====
* Rabbi Nissan Nemenov - Director and Mashpia of Tomchei Tmimim in Brunoy
* Rabbi Israel Noach Blinitzky
* Rabbi Avraham Sender Nemtzov
* Rabbi Saadia Liberow

These individuals enthusiastically supported the Rebbe's leadership and influenced Chabad Chassidim in the United States, Israel, and worldwide to accept his leadership. They also worked to ensure Chabad institutions would accept the Rebbe's leadership. However, some Chabad Chassidim, as well as Rebbetzin Nechama Dina (wife of the Previous Rebbe), supported the Previous Rebbe's elder son-in-law, Rabbi Shmaryahu Gurary (RaShaG), to lead the movement. After the Rebbe accepted leadership, RaShaG showed exceptional deference to the Rebbe.

In the months following the passing, many Chassidim from around the world wrote letters of connection and sent them to 770, but the Rebbe refused to accept the leadership. Over the following months, the pleas from the Chassidim increased while the Rebbe continued to refuse, though gradually he began taking on communal leadership responsibilities - writing general letters, giving instructions, receiving people for private audiences, and more. On the evening of 10 Shevat 5711, at a gathering marking the first anniversary of the Previous Rebbe's passing, the Rebbe delivered the discourse "[[Basi LeGani]]," thereby officially accepting leadership of Chabad Chassidism.