More than 250,000 books of Chassidic teachings, lore and belief are expected to be sold over the weekend at the annual Chassidism Fair—Yerid HaChassidut—held in Jerusalem’s International Convention Center, Binyanei HaUma.

Rabbi Yehuda Podorovsky of Kfar Chabad, Israel, says the book sale started in 2009 in tandem with the organization’s central 19 Kislev celebration of “Chassidic New Year.” The anniversary marks the day in 1798 when the founder of Chabad Chassidus, Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, known as the Alter Rebbe, was as released from a Czarist prison, as well as the passing in 1772 of his teacher, Rabbi Dov Ber of Mezerich.

On Thursday evening, Nov. 21, more than 10,000 participants from every walk of Jewish life are again expected to pack into the convention center for a gathering sponsored by the Chabad-Lubavitch Youth Organization in Israel. The organizer of the event is Rabbi Moshe Shilat, founder and head of Torat Chabad Libnei Hayeshivot in Kfar Chabad, Israel.

Speakers will include Rabbi Yoel Kahan, senior mashpia ("person of influence") in the central Lubavitcher yeshivah in Crown Heights, Brooklyn; Chief Rabbi of Russia Berel Lazar; author and Kabbalist Rabbi Yitzchak Ginsburg; and author Rabbi Yehoshua Shapiro.

A concert featuring the Alter Rebbe's niggunim ("religious melodies") will be led by notable Israeli singers Shuli Rand and Eviatar Banai, including a choir led by world-renowned clarinetist Chilik Frank.

Also on tap are workshops for men and women.

Last year, the book fair, organized by the Torah of Chabad for Yeshivah Students organization, was expanded to an independent three-day event and attracted some 20,000 visitors representing a cross-section of Israeli society.

Visitors pay a nominal entrance fee, which allows them to purchase books at a discounted rate of four for 100 shekels—about $28. The selections range from classic Chabad texts to obscure books by Chassidic masters of Galicia, Poland and Israel, in addition to the works of modern Chassidic academics.

In order to accommodate attendees—many of whom juggle careers, families and intense study regimens—the fair is scheduled to run late on Thursday, Nov. 21, and Sunday, Nov. 25—until 3 a.m., to be exact.