Rebbe Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev
Date of passing: 25-Tishrei. He is one of the most popular rebbes in chassidic history. He was a close disciple of the Maggid of Mezritch...
Born: Berditchev, 1740
Died: Berditchev, 1810
Born into a prominent rabbinical family, Rebbe Levi Yitzchak studied with the famed author of the “Pri Megadim,” and was a great scholar. He served as rabbi of several Polish communities.
After meeting Rabbis Shmelke Nikolsburg and Dov Baer of Mezritch, he was won over to Chassidism. He eventually became one of the most influential leaders of Chassidism in Central Poland and the Ukraine. Rebbe Levi Yitzchak is one of the most popular rebbes in Chassidic history.
Rebbe Levi Yitzchak had a close relationship with Rebbe Schneur Zalman of Liadi, the first Chabad Rebbe. Rebbe Nachman of Breslev called him the Peer (glory) of Israel.
Rebbe Levi Yitzchak is famous for his defense of the Jewish people before G-d and his interpretation of their actions in the best possible light. He is known as the “defense attorney for the Jewish people”.
Rabbi Levi Yitzchok composed some popular Chassidic religious folk songs, including A Dude’le and “The Kaddish of Rebbe Levi Yitzchok (A din Toyre mit Gott).” The Yiddish prayer “God of Abraham” which many Jewish women recite at the close of the Sabbath is erroneously attributed to him.
Rebbe Levi Yitzchak’s work, “Kedushat Levi,” was published in his lifetime and is still popular. It is a commentary on the weekly Torah portion and the Jewish holidays.
Rebbe Levi Yitzchak died on the 25th of Tishrei, 5570 (1809) and is buried in the old Jewish cemetery in Berdichev, Ukraine (then under the control of the Russian Empire).
He had three sons. The oldest one, Maier, died at a young age. The second one, Israel, succeeded his father as leader of the Chassidic movement. One of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak’s grandsons married the daughter of Dovber Schneuri, the Second of the Chabad Rebbe’s and the first Chabad Rebbe to live in Lubavitch.
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