Editing Shneur Zalman of Liadi (section)

=== Lithuania ===
During the latter portion of Dovber's life, his students dispersed over [[Europe]], and after Dovber's death, Shneur Zalman became the leader of [[Hasidic Judaism|Hasidism]] in [[Lithuanian Jews|Lithuania]], along with his senior colleague [[Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk]]. When Menachem Mendel died (in 1788), Shneur Zalman was recognized as leader of the Chassidim in Lithuania.<ref name="ReferenceA">“Shneor Zalman Ben Baruch”. jewishencyclopedia.com.</ref>

At the time Lithuania was the center of the ''[[misnagdim]]'' (opponents of Hasidism), and Shneur Zalman faced much opposition. In 1774 he and Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk traveled to [[Vilna]] in an attempt to create a dialogue with the [[Vilna Gaon]] who led the Misnagdim and had issued a ban (''[[Herem (censure)|cherem]]'') against the Hasidim, but the Gaon refused to see them (see [[Vilna Gaon#Antagonism to Hasidism|Vilna Gaon: Antagonism to Hasidism]] and [[Schisms among the Jews#Hasidim and Mitnagdim|Hasidim and Mitnagdim]]).{{fact|date=March 2021}}

Undaunted by this antagonism, he succeeded in creating a large network of Hasidic centers. He also joined opposition to [[Napoleon]]'s [[Napoleon#Invasion of Russia|advance on Russia]] by recruiting his disciples to the Czar's army.<ref>Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, Rabbi Nissan Mindel, New York: Kehot, 1973, pp. 251–252</ref> He was also active in canvassing financial support for the Jewish settlements in the [[Land of Israel]], then under the control of the [[Ottoman Empire]].{{fact|date=March 2021}}