ChaBaD Jewish Calendar Tuesday, 5 Elul, 5783 August 22, 2023
ChaBaD Jewish Calendar Tuesday, 5 Elul, 5783 August 22, 2023 Jewish History First Chassidic Aliya (1777) The first Chassidic aliyah ("ascent" - immigration to the Holy Land), led by Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk, Rabbi Abraham of Kalisk and Rabbi Yisroel of Polotzk, reached the Holy Land on Elul 5 of the year 5537 from creation (1777 CE). They were all disciples of the 2nd leader of the Chassidic movement, Rabbi DovBer, the " Maggid of Mezeritch " (who had passed away five years earlier) and colleagues of Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi , founder of Chabad. Initially, Rabbi Schneur Zalman was part of the group; but when the caravan reached the city of Moholiev on the Dnester River, Rabbi Menachem Mendel -- whom Rabbi Schneur Zalman regarded as his teacher and mentor after the Maggid's passing -- instructed him to remain behind to serve as the leader of the Chassidic community in White Russia and Lithuania. Rabbi Schneur Zalman retained close ties with the s...