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Сила Теилим

10 Av · Yahrzeit

Issachar ben Yaakov Avinu - 12 Tribes

Issachar ben Yaakov Avinu - the 8th son of the forefather Yaakov (1564 BCE - 1442 BCE) Yahrzeit - 10 Av Burial place - Tzidon (Sidon), Lebanon Issachar was the son of Yaakov Avinu and Leah Imeinu. He is one of the 12 tribes. According to the Arizal, the soul of Yaakov Avinu came from Hevel, the son of Adam, while the soul of his brother Esav came from Kayin, Hevel's twin brother. At birth, Yaakov held on to Esav's heel, thereby drawing out the good part of Kayin that was within Esav. Yaakov transferred this positive part of Kayin to Issachar. (Sha'ar HaGilgulim, Hakdama 38) Issachar's soul was later reincarnated in Rabbi Akiva, who was one of the Ten Martyrs, in order to atone for the sale of Yosef, in which Issachar had taken part. Before being reincarnated in Rabbi Akiva, Issachar was reincarnated in the famous Tanna Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakai. (Kitvei Ari, Sha'ar HaPesukim, Parshat Vayetze) When Issachar was born - on 10 Av - Leah said, "G-d has given me my reward (שכרי — s'chari) for having given my maidservant to my husband," and the child was named Issachar (Bereishit 30:17-18). Issachar married Arida, of the line of Ever, the younger sister of Adina, the wife of his brother Levi. Issachar and Arida had four sons: Tola, Puvah, Yov, and Shimron. Issachar took part in all the journeys, battles, and trials experienced by the sons of Yaakov. Issachar ben Yaakov died on 10 Av in Egypt in the year 2319 - at the age of 122. (Yalkut Shimoni, Shemot 162) Issachar sat and occupied himself with the study of Torah while Zevulun sailed the seas [for trade] and supported Issachar (Bereishit Rabbah 72:5). Zevulun financed Issachar's Torah study and was his partner in this - this is the origin of the famous partnership in which one engages in business and provides for the other, who studies Torah - "Zevulun and Issachar." The descendants of Issachar were sages of Torah. (Targum Yonatan, Bereishit 46:13) Every Torah scholar who decides matters of halacha descends from the tribe of Levi or from the tribe of Issachar. (Yoma 26a) His remains were brought from Egypt and buried in the city of Tzidon (Sidon), next to the grave of his brother Zevulun (located today in Lebanon) - this is the ancestral site of the tribe of Issachar. (Sefer HaYashar, end of Yehoshua) May the merit of the Tzadik Issachar ben Yaakov Avinu protect us all! (https://dailyzohar.com/tzadikim/60-Issachar-ben-Yaacov-Avinu)
Pilgrimage site: Grave: Yaakov Avinu