By COLlive and Chabad.org
Chassidic communities worldwide will be marking this Shabbos the special date of Chai Elul (Hebrew for “the 18th of Elul,” also meaning “the life of Elul”) as the birthday of the “two great luminaries.”
Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov, the founder of Chassidism, was born on this day in 1698; and Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, the founder of Chabad, was born in 1745.
On this day in 1734 (5494), the Baal Shem Tov was instructed by his masters to reveal himself and begin to publicly disseminate his teachings.
This came after many years of him living under the guise of an ignorant clay-digger and keeping his membership of the society of “hidden tzaddikim” as a secret.
Chassidim wish each other “Gut Yom Tov!” and conduct joyous gatherings called farbrengens.
Hundreds of Chassidim have arrived in Ukraine to spend the Shabbos in the village of Medzhybizh, where the Baal Shem Tov was laid to rest.
The group, with participants from Israel, France and Canada, is headed by Rabbi Shmuel Halperin of Bnei Brak.
Oholei Tzadikim, an organization that preserves Jewish cemeteries, is providing accommodations and kosher meals.
COLlive.com was told that the group will by davening at the restored Bais Medrash of the Baal Shem Tov.
I’d like to get in contact with person who has visited Medzhybizh. My grandparents came from this village to Odessa in 1900. I have an interest to visit Medzhybizh to track the line of ancestors further. Anyone like to exchange some email with me?
Stefan Essen, Stockholm, Sweden
email: essen.stefan@tele2.se
Me too, crossed the Polish/Ukraine border coming from Reb Elimelech M’Lizansk, and visited many other tzadikim like the Mezritched Maggid, Reb Zushe M’Hanipoli, Reb Menachem Mendel M’Riminov, Reb Avrum H’amalech and more.
there are no stairs out of the mikva, you need to use a ladder!