Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev (Levi Yitzchok Derbarmdiger (compassionate in Yiddish) or Rosakov) (1740–1809), also known as the holy Berdichever, and the Kedushas Levi, was a

Hasidic Hasidism, sometimes spelled Chassidism, and also known as Hasidic Judaism (Ashkenazi Hebrew: חסידות ''Ḥăsīdus'', ; originally, "piety"), is a Jewish religious group that arose as a spiritual revival movement in the territory of contem ...

master and Jewish leader. He was the rabbi of Ryczywół, Żelechów, Pinsk and

Berdychiv Berdychiv ( uk, Берди́чів, ; pl, Berdyczów; yi, באַרדיטשעװ, Barditshev; russian: Берди́чев, Berdichev) is a historic city in the Zhytomyr Oblast (province) of northern Ukraine. Serving as the administrative center ...

, for which he is best known. He was one of the main disciples of the Maggid of Mezritch, and of his disciple Rabbi Shmelke of Nikolsburg, whom he succeeded as rabbi of Ryczywół. 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 of Eastern European Jewry. He is considered by some to be the founder of Hasidism in central Poland. And known for his fiery service of God. Today, there are several synagogues called Berditshev, of which the rabbis of some are called Berditshever ''Rebbes''.

Life

Levi Yitzchak was born in the year 5500 (1740 CE) to Rabbi Meir (who was the

Av Beit Din The ''av beit din'' ( ''ʾabh bêth dîn'', "chief of the court" or "chief justice"), also spelled ''av beis din'' or ''abh beth din'' and abbreviated ABD (), was the second-highest-ranking member of the Sanhedrin during the Second Temple period, ...

of Zamosc) and Sarah-Sasha Ruskov in Husakov. Was known in his youth as the Illui from Yaroslav. Married to Perel, the daughter of Rabbi Israel Peretz of

Levertov Priscilla Denise Levertov (24 October 1923 – 20 December 1997) was a British-born naturalised American poet. She was a recipient of the Lannan Literary Award for Poetry. Early life and influences Levertov was born and grew up in Ilford, Ess ...

(grandson of Rabbi Yitzchak Meir Teomim-Frenkel Rav of Zolkawa son of Rabbi Yonah Teomim-Frenkel), and when she died she was over 100 years old. After his wedding, he went to the

Maggid of Mezritsch Dov Ber ben Avraham of Mezeritch ( yi, דֹּב בֶּער מִמֶּזְרִיטְשְׁ; died December 1772 OS), also known as the ''Maggid of Mezeritch'', was a disciple of Rabbi Israel ben Eliezer (the Baal Shem Tov), the founder of Hasidic ...

where he studied for several years. Levi Yitzchok was known to have a very close relationship with

Schneur Zalman of Liadi Shneur Zalman of Liadi ( he, שניאור זלמן מליאדי, September 4, 1745 – December 15, 1812 Adoption of the Gregorian calendar#Adoption in Eastern Europe, O.S. / 18 Elul 5505 – 24 Tevet 5573) was an influential Lithuanian Jews, Li ...

, the first Chabad Rebbe. Rabbi Nachman of Breslov called him the ''Peér'' (glory) of Israel. Levi Yitzchok composed some popular Hasidic religious folk songs, including '' A Dude'le'' and "

The Kaddish of Rebbe Levi Yitzchok ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in E ...

(''A din Toyre mit Gott'')." The

Yiddish Yiddish (, or , ''yidish'' or ''idish'', , ; , ''Yidish-Taytsh'', ) is a West Germanic language historically spoken by Ashkenazi Jews. It originated during the 9th century in Central Europe, providing the nascent Ashkenazi community with a ver ...

prayer " God of Abraham" recited by many Jewish people at the close of the

Sabbath In Abrahamic religions, the Sabbath () or Shabbat (from Hebrew ) is a day set aside for rest and worship. According to the Book of Exodus, the Sabbath is a day of rest on the seventh day, commanded by God to be kept as a holy day of rest, as G ...

is attributed to him. He died on the 25th of Tishrei, 5570 (October 5, 1809) and is buried in the old Jewish cemetery in

, 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 Hasidic movement. One of Levi Yitzchok's grandsons married the daughter of Dovber Schneuri, the second Chabad rebbe and the first to live in

Lubavitch Chabad, also known as Lubavitch, Habad and Chabad-Lubavitch (), is an Orthodox Jewish Hasidic dynasty. Chabad is one of the world's best-known Hasidic movements, particularly for its outreach activities. It is one of the largest Hasidic groups ...

Works

Rabbi Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev authored: *The "supreme"

Louis Jacobs Louis Jacobs (17 July 1920 – 1 July 2006) was a leading writer and theologian. He was the rabbi of the New London Synagogue in the United Kingdom. He was also the focus in the early 1960s of what became known as "The Jacobs Affair" in the ...

(1995)
Levi Yitzhak of Berditchev
/ref> Hasidic classic ''Kedushas Levi'': a commentary on Torah - arranged according to the weekly Torah portion - and the Jewish holidays, drawing on (and expanding) early Hasidic philosophy, as well as '' Talmud'' and '' Midrash''. In it R' Levi discusses also various points of

Jewish Law ''Halakha'' (; he, הֲלָכָה, ), also Romanization of Hebrew, transliterated as ''halacha'', ''halakhah'', and ''halocho'' ( ), is the collective body of Judaism, Jewish religious laws which is derived from the Torah, written and Oral Tora ...

. It was published first in 1798, and reprinted numerous times since; an English Translation was published in 2009. *''Beis Levi'': his commentary on '' Pirkei Avos''.

Books about Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev

*
Loving and Beloved: Tales of Rabbi Levi Yitzhak of Berdichev, Defender of Israel
' (Menorah Books, 2016)
'' Sparks from Berditchov ''

References

External links

R. Levi Yitzchak of BerditchevCommemorative coin from Levi Yitzchok of Berdychiv, from recently discovered seal
*http://www.chassidusonline.com/search?q=kedushas+levi 1740 births 1809 deaths 18th-century rabbis from the Russian Empire 19th-century rabbis from the Russian Empire Hasidic rebbes Jewish musicians Ukrainian musicians Russian musicians Orthodox rabbis from Galicia (Eastern Europe) 19th-century musicians from the Russian Empire Students of Dov Ber of Mezeritch {{Ukraine-rabbi-stub