Rabbi Yitzchak Friedman – the "Pachad Yitzchak"

Rabbi Yitzchak ben Avraham Yaakov Friedman (1850–1917) - author of «Pachad Yitzchak» (The Fear of Yitzchak) - was the founder and first Rebbe of the Boyan Chasidic dynasty.

Rabbi Yitzchak was the eldest son of Rebbe Avraham Yaakov Friedman (1819–1883), founder of the Sadigura dynasty, buried in Austria (Jewish Cemetery of Sadigura, Austria), and his wife Miriam.

His grandfather was the renowned Chasidic tzadik Rabbi Yisrael Friedman of Ruzhin (1797–1850).

At the age of 15, Yitzchak married Malka, daughter of Yochanan Twersky, the first Rebbe of Rachmastrivka (1816-1895). Four sons and one daughter were born to their family. After his father's passing in 1883, Yitzchak and his younger brother, Yisrael (1852-1907), jointly took over the leadership of their father's chasidim.

In 1887, the brothers agreed to draw lots to decide who would remain in Sadigura and who would leave. The lot fell to Rabbi Yisrael, who remained as the second Sadigura Rebbe, while Rabbi Yitzchak moved to the neighboring town of Boyan and established his own court there, becoming the first Boyaner Rebbe.

The residence of Rebbe Yitzchak Friedman consisted of the Rebbe's house, a synagogue, and four houses of prayer. Communities of Boyaner chasidim were established in neighboring towns, as well as in the Land of Israel - in Jerusalem, Tiberias, and Tzfat.

The first Rebbe of Boyan was known for his piety and humility. Nevertheless, he dressed richly and lived in a luxurious house. This manner was a symbol of the tradition of the Ruzhin court, established by his grandfather, Rebbe Yisrael of Ruzhin, who was called the royal tzadik.

At the outbreak of World War I, the Russian army occupied Boyan, and the Jewish quarter was completely destroyed. The Boyaner Rebbe and his family fled to Vienna. In 1916, the Rebbe fell gravely ill but recovered and continued to lead his community. On March 11, 1917 (17 Adar 5677), he suddenly fell ill again, called for his wife and children, took leave of each of them individually, and then began to sing a niggun of deveikut (attachment to G-d). While he sang, his soul departed from him.

Rebbe Yitzchak Friedman was buried in the Jewish cemetery of Vienna in a special Ohel. Later, his eldest son, Menachem Nachum (1869-1936), was buried in the same Ohel after his passing. After the passing of Rebbe Yitzchak Friedman, the chasidim were led by his eldest son, Menachem Nachum. Scattered by the war, thousands of chasidim from all over Europe came to him; many Boyaner chasidim who lived in the Holy Land lacked the means to visit their Rebbe. So Rebbe Menachem Nachum himself undertook a journey to Eretz Yisrael, where he stayed for four weeks, and according to eyewitnesses, he was greeted by four thousand people.