For the first time, the Tanya was printed in the town of Mogilev Podolsky (Mohyliv-Podilskyi) in Ukraine, where the Alter Rebbe resided for about a year and a half. The Tanya was printed at the initiative of Merkos Shlichus Bachurim Mendel Cohen and Tzemach Goldberg, along with the regional Shliach, Rabbi Shaul Horowitz.
Some background:
In the year 5537 (1776), Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Horodok, the Alter Rebbe’s Rebbe, decided, together with his entourage, to move to the Land of Israel. Rabbi Schneur Zalman, who was a devoted student, was greatly distressed and did not want to stay without his Rebbe.
After about three months of deliberations, he joined their journey to Eretz Israel. Together with his brother Rabbi Yehuda Leib, some family members, and his disciples, they packed up their belongings and traveled towards the city of Mogilev Podolsky, where Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Horodok Lived temporarily with his disciples.
When Rabbi Schneur Zalman’s disciples heard about their Rebbe’s intention to leave his city and join his teacher, some of them traveled to the town of Mogilev Podolsky, where Rabbi Menachem Mendel resided, and pleaded with Rabbi Mendel to make efforts to persuade Rabbi Schneur Zalman to stay with his Chasidim.
The Alter Rebbe’s brother shared that the Magid of Mezeritch appeared to the Alter Rebbe in a dream and asked him to stay in his city.
For about three weeks, Rabbi Menachem tried to convince him to stay, but Rabbi Schneur Zalman, with his calm determination, did not give up on the plan to leave with his Rebbe. After many pleas, Rabbi Menachem informed Rabbi Schneur Zalman that he was not allowed to join them on their journey and had to remain in the country, promising he would succeed in all his endeavors.
They bid farewell with tears and sorrow. For two weeks after they left, Rabbi Schneur Zalman remained in seclusion, grieving and yearning for his Rebbe. During his stay there, he reviewed the entire Talmud for the fifteenth time while standing day and night and began to review the laws of Netilat Yadayim and Birkat HaMazon from the Shulchan Aruch.
After about a year and a half of pleading by the Chassidim in Liozne and seeing their dedication to the community’s affairs, Rabbi Schneur Zalman decided to leave the town of Mogilev Podolsky and return to Liozne, following the instruction of his teacher, Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Horodok. There, he began to develop the Chabad Chassidic movement.
245 years later, the circle was completed when, following the Rebbe’s directive to disseminate the “Wellsprings” everywhere, the Tanya was printed in various locations. And This instruction was also fulfilled in this special town.
