Yaakov Yitzchak Rabinowicz of Peshischa (
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 ...
: יעקב יצחק ראבינאוויטש פון פשיסחא; – October 13, 1813) also known as the Yid Hakudosh () or the Yehudi was the founder and first
Grand Rabbi
Chief Rabbi ( he, רב ראשי ''Rav Rashi'') is a title given in several countries to the recognized religious leader of that country's Jewish community, or to a rabbinic leader appointed by the local secular authorities. Since 1911, through a ...
of the
Peshischa movement of
Hasidic philosophy
Hasidic philosophy or Hasidism ( he, חסידות), alternatively transliterated as Hasidut or Chassidus, consists of the teachings of the Hasidic movement, which are the teachings of the Hasidic ''rebbes'', often in the form of commentary on th ...
, and an important figure of
Polish Hasidism. The leading disciple of
Yaakov Yitzchak of Lublin
Yaakov Yitzchak HaLevi Horowitz ( he, יעקב יצחק הלוי הורוביץ), known as "the Seer of Lublin" (), ''ha-Chozeh MiLublin''; (c. 1745 - August 15, 1815) was a Hasidic rebbe from Poland.
"Rabbi Yaacov Yitzchak, the Chozeh of Lublin, ...
, the Yehudi preached an "elitist" approach to Hasidism, in which he parred traditional
Talmud
The Talmud (; he, , Talmūḏ) is the central text of Rabbinic Judaism and the primary source of Jewish religious law (''halakha'') and Jewish theology. Until the advent of modernity, in nearly all Jewish communities, the Talmud was the cente ...
ic learning with the highly spiritual
Kavanah
Kavanah, kavvanah or kavana (also pronounced /kaˈvonə/ by some Ashkenazi Jews) (כַּוָּנָה; in Biblical Hebrew kawwānā), plural kavanot or kavanos (Ashkenazim), literally means "intention" or "sincere feeling, direction of the heart". ...
of Hasidism. He encouraged individuality of thought, which brought his movement into conflict with the Hasidic establishment. Nevertheless, several of his teachings would go on to influence large percentages of modern Hasidism. Following his death in 1813, he was succeeded by his main disciple
Simcha Bunim of Peshischa
Simcha Bunim Bonhardt of Peshischa (Yiddish: שמחה בונם בונהרט פון פשיסכע, ; – September 4, 1827) also known as the Rebbe Reb Bunim was the second Grand Rabbi of Peshischa ( Przysucha, Poland) as well as one of the key le ...
, who increased his movement's influence tenfold. The Yehudi is the patriarch of the
Porisov and
Biala Hasidic dynasties.
Early life
Yaakov Yitzchak Rabinowicz was born in 1766 in
Przedbórz, Poland. His father
Asher Rabinowicz of Przedbórz Asher ben Elhanan Rabinowicz of Przedbórz (Yiddish: אשר ראבינאוויטש פון פשעדבאָרז; – January 20, 1798) also known as the Maggid of Przedbórz was an 18th-century Hasidic Maggid (preacher).
Born in Grojec, Poland to a ...
was a
maggid
A maggid ( he, מַגִּיד), also spelled as magid, is a traditional Jewish religious itinerant preacher, skilled as a narrator of Torah and religious stories. A chaplain of the more scholarly sort is called a '' darshan'' (). The title of '' ...
and 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 Przedbórz. His father was the great-grandson of
Isaac HaLevi Segal Isaac HaLevi Segal ( – ) was a 17th-century Polish rabbi, scholar and an early Hebrew grammarian, chiefly known for his essay ''Siach Yitzchak'' published in 1627 and 1628. He is also the older brother of David HaLevi Segal and the great-grandfa ...
, who was in part, the great-grandson of
Eliezer Treves of Frankfurt who was a descendant of
Rashi
Shlomo Yitzchaki ( he, רבי שלמה יצחקי; la, Salomon Isaacides; french: Salomon de Troyes, 22 February 1040 – 13 July 1105), today generally known by the acronym Rashi (see below), was a medieval French rabbi and author of a compre ...
. In his early years, he studied under David Tevele of Lissa and Aryeh Leib Halperin whom he followed to
Opatów
Opatów (; yi, אַפּטאַ, אַפּט) is a town in southeastern Poland, within Opatów County in the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship (Holy Cross Province). Historically, it was part of a greater region called Lesser Poland. In 2012 the populatio ...
, where he was introduced to Hasidism by
Moses Leib of Sasov Rabbi Moshe Yehudah Leib Erblich, popularly known as Rabbi Moshe Leib of Sassov, was one of the early Hasidic rebbes in 18th century Europe. He was the first rebbe of the town of Sasiv ( yi, סאַסעוו, Sassov), and the founder of the Sassov ...
. He spent several years teaching in the local
yeshivot
A yeshiva (; he, ישיבה, , sitting; pl. , or ) is a traditional Jewish educational institution focused on the study of Rabbinic literature, primarily the Talmud and halacha (Jewish law), while Torah and Jewish philosophy are st ...
and married Braindel Koppel, the daughter of the wealthy innkeeper Jacob Koppel of Opatów. Following this, he became a disciple of
David of Lelov who convinced the Yehudi to travel to the Hasidic court of
Yaakov Yitzchak Horowitz (the Seer) in
Lublin
Lublin is the ninth-largest city in Poland and the second-largest city of historical Lesser Poland. It is the capital and the center of Lublin Voivodeship with a population of 336,339 (December 2021). Lublin is the largest Polish city east of t ...
. During his time in Lublin, the Yehudi soon becoming the leading disciple of the Seer, who affectionally called him the "Yehudi" so that he would not be called by his rebbe's name. As the Seer became preoccupied with the responsibilities of mass movement he began directing newly-arrived young scholars visiting Lublin into the care of the Yehudi. However, over time, the Yehudi began to greatly resent the atmosphere in Lublin. In the court of the Seer, the rebbe served as the impetus of
God
In monotheism, monotheistic thought, God is usually viewed as the supreme being, creator deity, creator, and principal object of Faith#Religious views, faith.Richard Swinburne, Swinburne, R.G. "God" in Ted Honderich, Honderich, Ted. (ed)''The Ox ...
and worked within a
mystical
Mysticism is popularly known as becoming one with God or the Absolute, but may refer to any kind of ecstasy or altered state of consciousness which is given a religious or spiritual meaning. It may also refer to the attainment of insight in u ...
and
kabbalistic
Kabbalah ( he, קַבָּלָה ''Qabbālā'', literally "reception, tradition") is an esoteric method, discipline and Jewish theology, school of thought in Jewish mysticism. A traditional Kabbalist is called a Mekubbal ( ''Məqūbbāl'' "rece ...
framework. The Yehudi began to detest the all-encompassing role in which the Seer played within his follower's lives, and so he founded his own religious movement based in
Przysucha
Przysucha is a town in south-central Poland. Located in historic Lesser Poland, it is part of the Masovian Voivodeship, about 100 km southwest of Warsaw and 40 km west of Radom. It is the capital of Przysucha County, and the town 6, ...
(Peshischa). Several of the Seer's most distinguished disciples followed the Yehudi to Przysucha, such as
Simcha Bunim of Peshischa
Simcha Bunim Bonhardt of Peshischa (Yiddish: שמחה בונם בונהרט פון פשיסכע, ; – September 4, 1827) also known as the Rebbe Reb Bunim was the second Grand Rabbi of Peshischa ( Przysucha, Poland) as well as one of the key le ...
and
Menahem Mendel of Kotsk. This break from the Seer was dramatically recounted in
Martin Buber
Martin Buber ( he, מרטין בובר; german: Martin Buber; yi, מארטין בובער; February 8, 1878 –
June 13, 1965) was an Austrian Jewish and Israeli philosopher best known for his philosophy of dialogue, a form of existentialism c ...
's "''Gog Und Magog''"''.''
Rabbinic position
The Yehudi believed that an individual should always examine his intentions, and if they are corrupt he should cleanse them through a process of understanding. Once famously saying ''"God's seal is 'truth,' it can not be forged, since if it is forged it is true no more"''. It was this fundamental belief in individuality and autonomy of self which resulted in a continuous dispute between the Seer and the Yehudi. The Seer believed that it was his duty to bring an end to the
Napoleonic wars
The Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815) were a series of major global conflicts pitting the French Empire and its allies, led by Napoleon I, against a fluctuating array of European states formed into various coalitions. It produced a period of Fren ...
, by using Kabbalah, and asked the Yehudi to join this spiritual endeavour, the latter refused, believing that one finds redemption through a highly personal process of self-cleansing. The Yehudi believed that humility is the core virtue of a person who truly knows himself, recognizing his own imperfection. He also believed that one should not be influenced by the status quo as it can lead to impure motives. The Yehudi stated that ''"Each person should have two sides, after showing one to himself he will not be troubled by others and will be able to show the other to the rest of the world"'' In this, the Yehudi expresses the fundamental ideal of authenticity. Believing that if one has faults, they should be open about said faults instead of living in a place of shame.
The Yehudi believed that the path to enlightenment required critical judgment of religious routine, stating that ''"all the rules that a person makes for himself to worship God are not rules, and this rule is not a rule either".'' The Yehudi removed himself from earthly desires, such as sex or eating, believing that it was his specific path to self-cleansing. This stood in staunch contrast with the materialistic nature of the Seer, who believed that self-cleansing was done through miracles tied to the rebbe. The Yehudi believed that the main role of the rebbe was to guide his disciples in their struggle for spiritual depth, and not to serve as a miracle-worker. This teaching appealed to the followers of Peshischa, who were an elite and highly educated group of young Hasidim who were willing to sacrifice their material well-being as well as their inner peace in the name of self-cleansing.
The Yehudi believed that one of the main paths to self-cleansing was the parring of traditional Talmudic learning with the deeply spiritual Kavanah of Hasidism. Unlike his Hasidic contemporaries, the Yehudi believed that Learning Talmud became central to the worship of God stating that ''"learning Talmud and
Tosafot
The Tosafot, Tosafos or Tosfot ( he, תוספות) are medieval commentaries on the Talmud. They take the form of critical and explanatory glosses, printed, in almost all Talmud editions, on the outer margin and opposite Rashi's notes.
The auth ...
purifies the mind and makes one ready for praying"'' Ultimately the Yehudi believed that critical search for truth was crucial to enlightenment, and that process of enlightenment could only be done by an individual rather than through a rebbe. After his death in 1813, the Yehudi was succeeded by his main disciple Simcha Bunim of Peshischa who brought the movement its highest point and kickstarted a counter-revolutionary movement that challenged the Hasidic norm.
Legacy
![פשיסחא (6)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e2/%D7%A4%D7%A9%D7%99%D7%A1%D7%97%D7%90_%286%29.JPG)
During his life, the Yehudi wrote no works of his own, but many of his teachings were transmitted orally and published, much later on after his death. The following are collections of the Yehudi's oral teachings:
Nifla'ot ha-Yehudi(נפלאות היהודי) – Published in 1908 in
Piotrków Trybunalsk by Baruch ben Avraham of Kasov.
Tiferet ha-Yehudi(תפארת היהודי) – Published in 1912 in
Warsaw
Warsaw ( pl, Warszawa, ), officially the Capital City of Warsaw,, abbreviation: ''m.st. Warszawa'' is the capital and largest city of Poland. The metropolis stands on the River Vistula in east-central Poland, and its population is officia ...
by Baruch ben Avraham of Kasov.
Torat ha-Yehudi(תורת היהודי) – Published in 1911 in
Bilgoraj by Yaakov ben Zeev Yehuda Orner.
His eldest son, Yerachmiel married Golda, daughter of Dov, the Av Beit Din of
Bila Tserkva
Bila Tserkva ( uk, Бі́ла Це́рква ; ) is a city in the center of Ukraine, the largest city in Kyiv Oblast (after Kyiv, which is the administrative center, but not part of the oblast), and part of the Right Bank. It serves as the admi ...
, their son
Natan David Rabinowicz founded the
Biala Hasidic Dynasty. The Yehudi's second son, Joshua Asher of
Parysów married Lili Halberstadter, the daughter of Naftali Zvi Halberstadter and founded the
Porisov Hasidic dynasty, their son Yaakov Zvi Rabinowicz authored "Atarah LeRosh Tzadik". The Yehudi's third son, Nehemia Jehiel of Bychawa married the daughter of Hayyim of Bila Tserkva, their son Haim Gedalliah Rabinowicz was a
Admor
A Rebbe ( yi, רבי, translit=rebe) or Admor ( he, אדמו״ר) is the spiritual leader in the Hasidic movement, and the personalities of its dynasties.Heilman, Samuel"The Rebbe and the Resurgence of Orthodox Judaism."''Religion and Spiritua ...
in
Bychawa
Bychawa () is a town in Poland, in Lublin Voivodeship, in Lublin County, about 25 km south of Lublin. The town lies in Lublin Upland and belongs to historic Lesser Poland. The town was first mentioned in historical documents from the 14th ...
. The Yehudi's eldest daughter, Rivka Rochel married
Moshe Biderman
Grand Rabbi Moshe Biderman (1776-1851) of Lelów was the 2nd Rebbe of the Lelov Hassidic dynasty.
Biography
Rabbi Moshe Biderman was born into abject poverty in Łachów, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, Poland in 1776. His father, Rabbi Dovid B ...
of
Lelov
Lelov ( yi, לעֶלוֹב) is a Polish-Israeli Hasidic dynastic court, which traces its origins to the town of Lelów, Poland where the court was established in 1815 by Rabbi Dovid Biderman (1746-1814).
The Lelover dynasty migrated from Poland ...
, son of Rabbi
Dovid of Lelov, their son Eleazar Mendel Biderman of Lelov was the Third Grand Rabbi of the
Lelov Hasidic dynasty. The Yehudi's youngest child, Sarah Leah married Samuel Raphaels of
Józefów
Józefów () is a town in east-central Poland, located in Masovian Voivodeship, in Otwock County. It lies about southeast of Warsaw city centre and is a part of that city's metropolitan area. Located on a picturesque confluence of Vistula and ...
, their daughter Braindel Faiga Raphaels married
Avraham Moshe Bonhardt of Peshischa, son of Rabbi
Simcha Bunim Bonhardt of Peshischa. Their son,
Tzvi Hersh Mordechai Bonhardt
Tzvi Hersh Mordechai Bonhardt of Peshischa-Vurka (Yiddish: צבי הירש מרדכי באנהאַרד פון פשיסחה-ווארקא; Polish: Hersz Mordechy z Przysuchy; September 26, 1826 - December 7, 1866) was a 19th-century Polish Hasidi ...
was a Admor in Przysucha.
References
Citations
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Rabinowicz, Yaakov Yitzchak
Hasidic Judaism in Europe
Hasidic rebbes
1766 births
1813 deaths
People from Radomsko County