Tzadikim

Rabbi Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev

Rabbi Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev was known as the "defense attorney" for the Jewish people

Called by Rabbi Nachman of Breslov  the Peér (glory) of Israel

Born: Berdychiv, 1740 (5501)
Died: Berdychiv, Ukraine, 1809
 

Rabbi Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev (1740–1809 in Berdychiv), also known as the Berdichever, was a Hasidic leader. He was the rabbi of Ryczywół, Żelechów, Pinskand Berdychiv, 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.

Reb Levi Yitzchok was known as the "defense attorney" for the Jewish people, 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 authored the Hasidic classic Kedushas Levi, which is a commentary on many Jewish religious books and laws, and is arranged according to the weekly Torah portion. He is considered by some to be the founder of Hasidism in central Poland.

Rabbi Levi Yitzchok was known to have a very close relationship with the famous Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, the first Chabad Rebbe.

Rabbi Nachman of Breslov called him the Peér (glory) of Israel.

Rabbi Levi Yitzchok composed some popular Hasidic 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.

He died on the 25th of Tishrei, 5570 (1809) and is buried in the old Jewish cemetery in Berdychiv, 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 Rabbi Levi Yitzchok's grandsons married the daughter of Dovber Schneuri, the Second of the Chabad Rebbe's and the first Chabad Rebbe to live in Lubavitch.

May the merit of the tzadik Rabbi Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev protect us all. Amen

Light a virtual Candle
  • Soul Elevations

    • רבי יחיאל הלל בן רבי יעקב
    • Noah ben Yosef
    • Gary Fishmen ben Stanley
    • שיינה מינדל בת ר' יחיאל הלל
  • Healing

    • יצחק ירחמיאל בן משה פייבל
    • Shmuel ben Manya
    • Roberto Isaac ben Teresa
    • Thomas ben Karin
    • יותם בן זהבה
    • אתי בן נורית
    • משה אהרון בן לאה ביילא
    • Thomas ben Karin
    • אלרועי ינון בן סיגל
    • Thomas ben Karin
    • חיים בן מרים
    • JOSE LITUMA ben Sarah
    • Sarah bat Luiza
    • Patricio Luis Alberto Mauricio Angelo Gary ben Sara
    • אריאל בן אפרת
    • יאיר בן נעמי אסתר
    • כלב יצחק בן רבקה
    • Thomas ben Karin
    • Joel ben Midge
    • Efrat bat Ziona
    • Natalie bat Alexandra
    • הראל בן חנה
    • איתי בן רחל
    • Robert Eugene ben Marie
    • Miriam bat Sarah
    • Thomas ben Karin
    • עוז משה בן תמר
    • Luiz ben Maria
    • Zalman ben Ruchel
    • Aurelia bat Aurelia
  • Success in life

    • Nicole bat Pilar
    • Tzivia Gallegos bat Dionicio
    • Shmuel ben Shmuel
    • Michelle bat Jose
    • Ingrid bat Horst
    • Luiz ben Lino
    • Robert ben Yosef
    • Moshe Yitro ben Pedro Shaul
    • Augusto ben Salvador R. Hernandez
    • Florrie Sésé bat Kae
    • Meyer ben Raphael Yair
    • Daniel ben Shimon
    • GRACIELA ben ISMAEL
    • Sarah bat Primo
Light a virtual Candle


Hillulot | Biographies | Prayers | Virtual Candle