10 Iyar · Yahrzeit

Rabbi Yitzchak (Isaac) Yehuda Yechiel Safrin

Rabbi Yitzchak (Isaac) Yehuda Yechiel ben Alexander Safrin (25 Shevat 1806 - 10 Iyar 1874) Yahrzeit - 10 Iyar Resting place - Hungary Son of Rabbi Alexander Sender of Komarno - he was one of the most prolific and respected expounders of the kabbalistic teachings of the Baal Shem Tov. He insisted that every Jew study the Zohar HaKadosh and the writings of the Arizal, and he emphasized the importance of kabbalistic meditation. A close disciple of Rabbi Tzvi Hirsh of Zhidachov (the Komarno dynasty is considered a branch of Zhidachov), he spent many years as a hidden tzadik, only later becoming known for his genius, piety, and ability to work wonders, when he became the Rebbe of thousands of chassidim. He wrote volumes of profound insights into Jewish mysticism, as well as on the Mishnah and Jewish law. His commentaries include "Heichal HaBrachah" on the Torah, "Otzar HaChaim" on the mitzvot, and "Zohar Chai" on the Zohar, along with Shulchan HaTahor, Netiv Mitzvotecha, Notzer Chesed, and other sefarim. Gilgulim Rabbi Yitzchak (Isaac) Safrin wrote a remarkable account of his own gilgul in his personal diary: "I was my father's firstborn, and because of an accusation ... he [the Satan] caused me to undergo a distorted transmigration, for had he rectified my soul, I would not have needed to come into this world... I was not in this world for more than a year." According to him, he was his father's firstborn but died at the age of one. His soul then came into the world a second time, in his [Rabbi Yitzchak Isaac Safrin's] body. "And as soon as I came to my mother from the upper world, I said to her: 'Mother, bring me back to you, for so it was decreed.'" He wrote that Mashiach ben Yosef takes upon himself the exile "for the sake of the righteous who were transmigrated into fish." Reb Yitzchak Isaac Eichenstein of Safrin, Hungary, besides being a great philanthropist, was a tzadik and talmid chacham, even though he never held the position of rabbi. He was also a descendant of the Tosafot Yom Tov. He had five sons, all of whom were great tzadikim: Rav Tzvi Hirsh of Zhidachov, Rav Moshe of Sambor, Rav Alexander Sender of Komarno, Rav Yissachar Ber of Zhidachov, and Rav Lipa of Sambor. The eldest son, Rav Tzvi Hirsh, said of his father, "I am like vinegar, the son of wine," showing how great he considered his father to be. Once, when Rav Yitzchak was already very old, he let out a long, loud sigh. His wife asked what was troubling him. He replied that he was worried about how they would merit to go to Gan Eden. His wife answered with two words from the previous week's parsha, Chukat (20:19): בַּמְסִלָּה נַעֲלֶה - "by the highway we will go up." What she actually meant by these words was this: נַעֲלֶה (we will go up to Gan Eden), בַּמְסִלָּה - contains the initial letters of the names of their sons: Beirish, Moshe, Sender, Lipa, and Hirsh. By the merit of our great sons, we will merit Gan Eden. This Wednesday, 11 Tammuz, is the 176th yahrzeit of the eldest brother, Rav Tzvi Hirsh of Zhidachov. He was a talmid of the Chozeh of Lublin, Rav Moshe Leib of Sasov, the Maggid of Kozhnitz, and Rav Mendel of Rimanov. He was deeply involved in the study of Kabbalah and wrote sefarim on Kabbalah and revealed Torah. His numerous sefarim include Ateret Tzvi on the Zohar (by which name this sefer is known) and Beit Yisrael on the Torah. (From a lesson by Gaon Rabbi Yitzchak HaCohen) May the zechut of the Tzadik protect Am Yisrael!