Assemblies of the Maggid's Disciples
Assemblies of the Maggid's Disciples[edit | edit source]
The Assemblies of the Maggid's Disciples were a series of gatherings held by the leading students of the Maggid of Mezeritch following his passing. These assemblies shaped the future direction of the Chassidic movement and served as the seedbed from which Chabad Chassidus would eventually emerge.
Background[edit | edit source]
In 1772 (Taf-Kuf-Lamed-Bet / תקל"ב), a formal ban — known in Hebrew as a cherem — was issued against the Chassidic community and the Maggid's disciples, intensifying the persecution already being waged by the Misnagdim, the opponents of Chassidus. On 19 Kislev 1772 (תקל"ג), the Maggid of Mezeritch passed away, adding further hardship to a movement already under pressure.
The Chassidim found themselves in need of leadership. The Alter Rebbe (Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi), Rabbi Zusha of Anipoli, and Rabbi Yehuda Leib HaKohen accepted Rabbi Avraham HaMalach — the Maggid's son, whose name means "the Angel" — as their Rebbe, and on Chanukah of 1772 (תקל"ג) sent him a letter of hitkashrut (formal spiritual attachment).[1]
Shortly thereafter, the Maggid's disciples convened to chart the path forward for Chassidus.
The First Assembly (1772)[edit | edit source]
In 1772 (תקל"ג), the disciples of the Maggid gathered for the first time to deliberate on the future of the Chassidic movement.
Their first resolution was to appoint Rabbi Avraham HaMalach as the head of the Chevra Kadisha — the fellowship of the Maggid's closest disciples. They further resolved to appoint Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk as the nasi (president, or leading figure) of the Chassidim in Russia and Lithuania, and to appoint the Alter Rebbe as the mesoider haklali — the general organizer — who would be responsible for maintaining the structure of the movement and strengthening Chassidic communities throughout the region.
Aftermath[edit | edit source]
For three years — from the conclusion of the assembly in 1772 (תקל"ג) until 1776 (תקל"ו) — the Alter Rebbe traveled from city to city, visiting and fortifying Chassidic communities across the region.
These journeys took place sometimes openly, sometimes quietly, and included visits even to the strongholds of the Misnagdim, such as Vilna, Minsk, and Shklov.
In the course of these travels, the Alter Rebbe gathered around him a circle of students and Chassidim who would later form the nucleus of the Chadarim he would establish.
The Second Assembly (1776)[edit | edit source]
In 1776 (תקל"ו), the disciples of the Maggid convened a second time. The resolutions taken at this assembly were:
- That Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk would emigrate to the Holy Land.
- That the Alter Rebbe would be appointed nasi of the Chassidim in Russia and Lithuania.
- That the Alter Rebbe would continue in his role as general organizer.
The Chadarim[edit | edit source]
Following his appointment as nasi, the Alter Rebbe issued a proclamation to the Chassidic community, inviting them to come to Liozna to study and receive guidance on how to structure their learning there.
The directives he set out were:
- Every day, Gemara must be studied with close analysis (b'iyun) in a study group (chaburah), for no fewer than four hours.
- Each week, a fixed body of material must be covered and mastered (bekius — broad, rapid study aimed at fluency).
- Each day, a page of Gemara must also be reviewed in the style of girsa — reading through the text to gain familiarity.
- Twice each week, the Chassidim would engage in spirited Talmudic debate (pilpul) among themselves; this was overseen by the Alter Rebbe's brother, Rabbi Mordechai.
- Each day, Halacha (Jewish law) must be studied for two hours, covering one section of the Shulchan Aruch (the standard code of Jewish law) per day; this was overseen by the Alter Rebbe's brother, Rabbi Yehuda Leib.
From among the Chassidim who came to Liozna and remained steadfast in their study, the Alter Rebbe eventually established the Chadarim.
The Third Assembly (1777)[edit | edit source]
The Aliyah of the Chassidim[edit | edit source]
As noted above, one of the resolutions of the 1776 (תקל"ו) assembly was that Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk would make his way to the Holy Land.
After Passover of 1777 (תקל"ז), the Alter Rebbe decided to join Rabbi Menachem Mendel on the journey to Eretz Yisrael — the Land of Israel. The students of the Chadarim in Liozna were deeply pained at the prospect and tried to persuade him to remain in Russia.
For three months the Alter Rebbe traveled and journeyed — but in the end, Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk and Rabbi Avraham of Kalisk convinced him to return home.
Shortly before their departure for Eretz Yisrael, the disciples of the Maggid gathered one final time and established the last resolutions concerning the future direction of Chassidus.
Aftermath[edit | edit source]
Upon the Alter Rebbe's return, he settled in Liozna[2] and established an orderly set of guidelines for those coming to Liozna, known as the Takanot Liozna (the Regulations of Liozna).
In 1778 (תקל"ח), the first cheder of the Alter Rebbe was established — the institution that would serve as the foundation for the emergence of Chabad Chassidus.