Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Personal life | |
| Born | 1740 (1740) |
| Died | 5 October 1809(1809-10-05) (aged 68–69) |
| Signature |  |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Judaism |
| Denomination | Hasidic |
| Jewish leader | |
| Predecessor | Shmelke of Nikolsburg |
| Position | rabbi of Ryczywół |
Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev (Levi Yitzchok Derbarmdiger (compassionate in Yiddish) or Rosakov) (1740–1809), also known as the holyBerdichever, and theKedushas Levi, was aHasidic master and Jewish leader. He was the rabbi ofRyczywół,Żelechów,Pinsk andBerdychiv, for which he is best known. He was one of the main disciples of theMaggid of Mezritch, and of his disciple RabbiShmelke of Nikolsburg, whom he succeeded as rabbi of Ryczywół.[1] He is also the great-grandfather of Israeli artistIsaac Frenkel Frenel.[2]
Levi Yitzchok was known as the "defense attorney" for the Jewish people ("Sneiguron Shel Yisroel"), because he would intercede on their behalf before God. Known for his compassion for every Jew, he was one of the most beloved leaders ofEastern European Jewry. He is considered by some to be the founder ofHasidism in central Poland.[3]
Levi Yitzchak was born in 1740CE (5500in the Jewish calendar) to Rabbi Meir (who was theAv Beit Din (head of a rabbinical court) ofZamosc) and Sarah-Sasha Ruskov in Husakiv (Ukrainian:Гусаків), now inYavoriv Raion, Lviv Oblast (region) ofUkraine.[4] In his youth he was known as theIllui fromYaroslav. He married Perel, the daughter of Rabbi Israel Peretz ofLevertov. After his wedding, he studied for several years underDov Ber of Mezeritch.
In 1784, he settled inBerdychiv,[5]Russian Empire, in what is todayUkraine. There, he served as rabbi until the beginning of the 19th century.[5]Nachman of Breslov called him thePeér (glory) of Israel.[6] Levi Yitzchok composed some popular Hasidic religious folk songs, includingA Dude'le and "The Kaddish of Rebbe Levi Yitzchok (A din Toyre mit Gott)."
He died on the 25th ofTishrei, 5570 (October 5, 1809) and is buried in the old Jewish cemetery inBerdychiv.[7]
The second of his three sons, Israel, succeeded him as leader of the Hasidic movement.[citation needed] One of Levi Yitzchok's grandsons married the daughter ofDovber Schneuri, the secondChabad-Lubavitch rebbe and the first to live inLubavitch.[8]
