YOSSI ARON

AS the yomim tovim drew to an end this year, many in the Chassidic world turned their minds to the early days of the Chassidic movement. The occasion? The 200th yahrzeit of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev.

Who was Rabbi Levi Yitzchak?

The Chassidic movement was founded by Rabbi Israel Ba’al Shem Tov, who died in 1772. However, while the Ba’al Shem Tov impacted both directly and indirectly on so many of his generation, the individual who did most to spread his teachings was Rabbi Dov Ber, the Maggid of Mezeritch.

He, in turn, had many students and followers whose names stand out in the history of Chassidism. Aside from Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, the first Rebbe of Chabad, significant disciples included Rabbi Elimelech of Lizhensk, Reb Zusia of Anipoli and Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev.

Born around 1740 in Galicia, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak first met the Maggid in 1766 and subsequently served as rabbi in various communities before taking up a position in Berditchev in 1785.

He played a key role in the fight against the mitnaggedim -– the opponents of the new-found Chassidic way of life. His most significant contribution to traditional Jewish literature is the ­oft-published Kedushat Levi, comprising dissertations on the parshiyot and festivals.

In his Triumph of Survival – The Story of Jews in the Modern Era, Rabbi Berel Wein, whose columns appear in these pages from time to time, describes Rabbi Levi Yitzchak as “a legendary figure in Jewish life, famous for his love of Jews and his defence of the Jewish people against its enemies.

In his prayers on behalf of the Jewish people, he always sought to show their innate goodness and find excuses for their misdeeds. He even went so far as to symbolically summon God to a din Torah, to justify Israel and free it from exile.” That latter event was subsequently immortalised in Yiddish folklore literature and song.

And indeed it is in the multitude of stories so often recounted that Rabbi Levi Yitzchak’s spirit has been immortalised. Perhaps the best-known anecdote encapsulating his attitude to the Jewish world around him is one involving a Jewish wagon driver.

In a world where the opponents of Chassidism deprecated the simple and unlearned folk, the sight of a wagon driver rushing out to fix the wheel and axles of his cart, while still dressed in tallit and tefillin, evoked ridicule and disdain.

Said Rabbi Levi Yitzchak, turning his eyes heavenward: “Master of the universe – how great are your people. Even while carrying out the dirtiest and most mundane tasks, they wear the garb of holiness!”

Another story tells of one Yom Kippur, when his congregants waited and waited in shul, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak did not begin Kol Nidrei. Finally he called his assistant and asked the whereabouts of Beryl the tailor. The assistant went to find him and brought him to the rabbi. Where were you, Beryl was asked.

Frightened at the summons he had dared not refuse, Beryl explained how in anger with God over a loss some time back, he had refrained from carrying out many commandments. However, on the eve of Yom Kippur, seeing his brethren going to shul, he had begun to debate with God in his mind that as Yom Kippur was a day of forgiveness, if God would forgive him, he would forgive God for the fact that he, Beryl, had been mistreated by God.

But he wanted to be assured that God would forgive him -– and was now convinced Rabbi Levi Yitzchak would reprimand him for his audacity. But Rabbi Levi Yitzchak gave him the assurance, adding that with his simple sincerity he had laid the way for all Israel to be forgiven – and so the services could commence.

On another occasion, he reflected on the blessing of the Yom Kippur Amidah – “Blessed are you God the King who pardons and forgives our iniquities and those of all Israel each year.” How could one say such a blessing without knowing if it is actually true? He answered with a parable of a boy whose father refused to give him the apple he so wanted.

Finally the boy had an idea. He recited the blessing “Borei pri ha’etz” and the father, who could not allow the blessing to be recited in vain, was forced to give the boy the apple. This, said Rabbi Levi Yitzchak, is how we approach our Father seeking forgiveness on Yom Kippur.

May his memory be a blessing for us all.

Yossi Aron is The AJN‘s religious affairs editor.