Rabbi Yisrael of Ruzhin- The Rizhiner
Date of Passing: 3-Cheshvan. Chassidic tradition holds that the Rizhiner's father had a spark of King David's soul and his son had a spark of King Solomon's.
Rabbi Yisrael of Ruzhin
(Pogrpbisht, Ukraine, 1797 – Sadagora, Galicia, 1850) Popularily known as the Rizhiner. Rabbi Yisrael the founder of the Rizhin dynasty, was born to Rabbi Shalom Shachna of Prohovitch (who was a son of Rabbi Avraham HaMalach son of the Maggid of Mezrich) and his wife Chava a day after Rosh Hashana.
When only 15 years old he succeeded his father as chassidic rebbe of Prohovitch (near Kiev). With his phenomenal talent for organization, the young rebbe built the community into a chassidic center.
As a result of false accusations of treason, R' Yisrael was imprisoned for two years in Kiev. After his release he fled to Sadagora where he was acclaimed more than ever before.
Compilations of his commentaries were published under the titles Irin Kaddishin, Knesset Yisrael, and Pe'er Layesharim. His comments, many of which are based on kabbalistic themes, attest to his great wisdom and piety. He was the father of the chasidic dynasties of Sadagora, Chortokov, Boyan, and others, all of which are keeping alive the Rizhiner tradition today with large yeshivot and chassidic centers in Israel and the United States.
Chassidic tradition maintains that R. Shalom Shachna possessed a "spark" of King David's soul and that his son R. Yisrael of Rizhin had a spark of King Solomon's.
May the merit of the tzaddik Rabbi Rabbi Yisrael of Rizhin protect us all, Amen.
Source: rabbishimon.com
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