Rav Chaim Elazar Shapiro, the Minchas Elazar of Munkacs, long desired to meet the Saba Kaddisha, Rav Shlomo Eliezer Alfandari. In the spring of 1930, the Rebbe arrived for a 13-day sojourn in the Holy Land, and the historic meeting finally took place. During the visit, the Rebbe also expended great efforts in building Batei Munkacs in Jerusalem, and wrote the bylaws of the emerging neighborhood. A chassid who accompanied him kept a diary, which appeared in English in 2009 under the title Journey to Jerusalem.
On the eve of Lag B’omer, the Rebbe traveled by car to Tzfas, where he was invited by local Sanz chassidim to spend the weekend. The Rebbe avoided Meron that night, as he was concerned about the mingling between boys and girls. He instead danced at a bonfire in Tzfas and took part in the upsherens of local children.