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Commentary to Avot by R. Levi Isaac b. Meir of Berdichev (c. 1740–1810), hasidic zaddik and rabbi; one of the most famous personalities in the third generation of the hasidic movement. R. Levi Isaac was born into a distinguished rabbinic family and his father was rabbi in Hoshakov (Galicia). After marrying the daughter of a rich contractor he moved to his father-in-law's home in Lubartow (Poland), where he studied with R. Joseph Teomim. At that time he met R. Samuel Shmelke Horowitz of Nikolsburg, then rabbi in Richwal (Ryczwol), who acquainted him with the Hasidism of R. Israel b. Eliezer Ba'al Shem Tov. In 1766 R. Levi Isaac went to study under R. Dov Baer the Maggid of Mezhirech, becoming one of the intimate circle of his pupils. When R. Shmelke left Richwal R. Levi Isaac replaced him, though only for a short period. He next served as rabbi in Zelechow, where he first emerged as a hasidic zaddik. Moving to Berdichev in 1785, he served as rabbi there until his death. In Berdichev R. Levi Isaac won great renown as rabbi, hasidic leader, and scholar; even the mitnaggedim admitted that he was a noted Torah scholar (Zemir Arizim (Warsaw, 1798), 3). He made many amendments in communal takkanot and took part in public affairs. In 1801(?) he convened a meeting of leaders to discuss the government's prohibition on Jewish settlement in the villages and other oppressive measures; in 1807 R. Levi Isaac's name headed a list of Jewish contributors to the Russian war effort against the anticipated French invasion. During a serious illness in 1793, "he was grieved and his spiritual forces declined" (Ozar ha-Hayyim ve-Heikhal ha-Berakhah, introduction to the Book of Numbers). In this crisis he was helped by R. Israel b. Shabbetai the Maggid of Kozienice.
The founder of Hasidism in central Poland, R. Levi Isaac consolidated the movement in Lithuania and furthered it in the Ukraine. In his teachings Levi Isaac stressed the element of joy in Hasidism, the principle of devekut ("adhesion") to G-d, and the necessity for fervent prayer to the point of hitpashetut ha-gashmiyyut ("abstraction from corporeality"). When a man prays fervently "with all his heart and his soul then his spirit delights because it is elevated from the material world and only the spirit remains" (Kedushat Levi, Va-Yeze). It is necessary that "every Jew should worship the Creat-r with devotion and fervor" (Kedushat Levi, Va-Yera). One of the best loved of zaddikim, R. Levi Isaac occasionally traveled with great acclaim throughout the land. Accompanied by his minyan, he introduced the people to the joy of fulfilling the commandments, winning them over to Hasidism. Before the Holocaust, visitors to the bet midrash in the "Iron Gate" in Warsaw were shown a column in front of which R. Levi Isaac used to pray when he visited the city.
R. Levi Isaac shared the distress of his people and worked to improve their living conditions. In singing his prayers he addressed the Creator in Yiddish; popular tradition has preserved some of these ("The Kaddish of R. Levi Isaac" etc.; see Kaddish). He stressed the good that is in man and always pleaded the cause of Jews: "No one has a right to say anything evil about the Jewish people, but only to intercede for them" (Kedushat Levi, Hukkat). He distinguished between two types of preacher: he who admonishes "with good words," who shows man "his merit and the source of his soul," bringing out his superior qualities and indicating opportunies for him to rise; and he who admonishes "with severe words," awes and subdues. Only he who "admonishes Jewish people gently, elevates their souls and always extols their righteousness is worthy of being their leader" (ibid.). R. Levi Isaac's book of sermons, Kedushat Levi, was published during his lifetime (Slavuta, 1798; Zolkiew, 1806) and was supplemented by his sons from manuscripts (Berdichev, 1811). |
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על פרקי אבות... מן... ר' לוי יצחק זצלה"ה אבדק"ק ברדיטשוב וזעליחוב... גם כוונת המקוה מהבעש"ט... נמצא בכתב יד בתוך גנזי... תלמידו... מו"ה ישראל [האפשטיין] זצלל"ה מ"מ דק"ק קאזניץ. הובא לבית הדפוס ע"י מוה' משה הכהן נ"י חתן הרב... ישכר זצלל"ה נכד הרב המגיד... מקאזניץ. בשנת כ'ח' מ'ע'ש'י'ו' ה'ג'י'ד' ל'ע'מ'ו'
קיימות שתי הוצאות, דומות מאוד זו לזו, אך הן שתי הדפסות שונות. בהוצאה הנוכחית (בה תוארו של משה הכהן: "מוה'") השורה האחרונה בשער, לפני פרט-השנה: "ישכר זצלל"ה נכד הרב המגיד זצוקלל"ה מקאזניץ", ואחריה קו לרוחב העמוד. מעבר לשער, מתחת להסכמות, ציור של אגרטל עם פרחים. בהוצאה האחרת (בה תוארו של משה הכהן: "מוהר"ר") השורה האחרונה לפני פרט-השנה: "נכד הרב המגיד זצוקללה"ה מקאזניץ", ואחריה קישוט קצר. אין ציור מעבר לשער. הסכמות: ר' ישעיה מושקאט, פראגא, כא סיון תרכ"ב; ר' יוסף שאול הלוי נאטנזאהן, לבוב. |
