Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev (1740–1809): biography and Kedushat Levi
Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev (לוי יצחק מברדיטשוב) was a Hasidic master and community leader, remembered as the great defender of the Jewish people before G-d. He was born on the 29th of Iyar 5500 (May 25 or 26, 1740) in Husakiv (today in Ukraine) and died on the 25th of Tishrei 5570 (October 5, 1809) in Berdychiv.
Quick facts
| Name | Rabbi Levi Yitzchak ben Meir, of Berditchev |
| Born | 29 Iyar 5500 (May 1740), in Husakiv |
| Died | 25 Tishrei 5570 (October 5, 1809), in Berdychiv |
| Parents | Rabbi Meir, av beit din of Zamość, and Sarah Sasha Ruskov |
| Teachers | The Maggid of Mezritch and Rabbi Shmelke of Nikolsburg |
| Work | Kedushat Levi |
Teachers and posts
He was one of the main disciples of the Maggid of Mezritch and also of Rabbi Shmelke of Nikolsburg, whom he succeeded as rabbi of Ryczywół. He was a rabbi in several Polish and Lithuanian towns, among them Żelechów and Pinsk, and settled in Berdychiv in 1784 or 1785, where he remained until his death.
Kedushat Levi
It is a classic of Hasidism: a commentary on the Torah arranged by the weekly portions and the festivals, which also draws on the Talmud and the Midrash and deals with points of Halacha. Its publishing history, according to bibliographic catalogs:
- Slavuta, 1798: the first edition, printed at the press of Moshe Shapira, overseen by the author himself. It contained only the expositions on Chanukah and Purim.
- Zhovkva, 1806: a reprint in the author’s lifetime, in the same format.
- Berdychiv, 1810 or 1811: his descendants publish his commentaries on the Torah. The sources disagree about the year.
- Berdychiv, 1816: the first edition with both parts together.
He also wrote Beit Levi, a commentary on Pirkei Avot.
The defender of Israel
He was known as the “defense attorney” of the Jewish people (Sneigor Shel Yisrael) because of his habit of interceding before G-d on behalf of the Jews. He was famous for his compassion toward every Jew and is counted among the best-loved leaders of Eastern European Judaism. Rabbi Nachman of Breslov called him the Pe’er (“the splendor”) of Israel. Some consider him the founder of Hasidism in central Poland, although there is no consensus.
His burial
He is buried in the old Jewish cemetery of Berdychiv, where there is a mausoleum over his grave.
Frequently asked questions
Why is he called the defender of Israel?
Because of his habit of interceding for the people before G-d.
What is his main work?
Kedushat Levi, a Hasidic commentary on the Torah, whose first edition is from 1798.
Who was his teacher?
The Maggid of Mezritch.
Sources
- Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev, reference article (English Wikipedia) and the sources it cites
- Edition data for Kedushat Levi: Kedem and Genazym catalogs; MyJewishLearning
