Rav Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev is most famous for being one of the greatest of the early Chassidic masters, an extraordinary Tzaddik aflame with love for Hashem and His people. At the same time, he was an outstanding Gaon who served as the Rav and head of the rabbinical court in the city with which he is associated. He did not, however, take the post of Rav of Berditchev until 1785, when he was forty-five years old. Before that, he was Rav in several other cities, the first of which was Ryczywohl. The illustrious Rav Schmelke of Nikolsburg had been the Rav of Ryczywohl before being invited to serve as Rav of Nikolsburg. When he left, he was succeeded by his brilliant talmid, Rav Levi Yitzchok, who was only twenty-one years old.
Rav Levi Yitzchok came to be a talmid of Rav Schmelke because of a dream he had. After his marriage to his wife Perel, Rav Levi Yitzchok lived in the home of his wealthy father-in-law Rav Yisrael Peretz in the city of Levertov. Rav Levi Yitzchok did not feel that Levertov was the place for him. He yearned to study in the Yeshiva of Rav Schmelke, but his father-in-law insisted that he remain in Levertov. At that time, Levertov was a bright star in the Torah galaxy. Among its illustrious Talmidei Chachomim were Rav Yosef Thumim, the author of Pri Megodim, and Rav Yissochor Ber of Zlotchov, the author of Mevaser Tzedek and Bas Eini. What better place could there be for a young Torah prodigy such as Rav Levi Yitzchok than Levertov?
As time went on, Rav Levi Yitzchok’s discontent manifested itself in his physical appearance.
“Why do you look so drawn?” his father-in-law asked him.
“Every night I dream,” he said, “that I must go study with Rav Schmelke.”
“Very well. If your heart is so set on it, then you must go.”
Rav Levi Yitzchok became one of the star talmidim that Rav Schmelke brought to the holy Rebbe Rav Ber, the Maggid of Mezeritch and successor to the Ba’al Shem Tov as leader of the Chassidic movement. The others were Rav Yisrael, who later became the Maggid of Kozhnitz, and Rav Yaakov Yitzchok, who later became known as the Chozeh of Lublin.
There was another young prodigy living in Ryczywohl at the time Rav Levi Yitzchok became its Rav. His name was Rav Uziel Meisels, and he was the future author of Kerem Shlomo, Tiferes Uziel and Eitz HaDaas Tov. Recently married, he was living in the home of his wealthy father-in-law while he was learning Torah.
Rav Levi Yitzchok was a fiery Chassid of the Maggid of Mezeritch and emulated his ways. When he prayed or made berochos, his body trembled uncontrollably, and he would cry out at the top of his lungs in an ecstasy of devotion. Rav Uziel was not accustomed to this kind of behavior. It offended his sensibilities, and he disapproved. Since he was wealthy and learned, he felt no need to conceal his distaste for Rav Levi Yitzchok’s behavior, even though Rav Levi Yitzchok was the Rav of the city.
The first time Rav Uziel attended one of Rav Levi Yitzchok’s deroshos, he sat quietly among the people with his hands folded in his lap, listening to the Rav’s words with intense concentration. Rav Levi Yitzchok began by posing a number of sharp and perplexing questions regarding a difficult sugya. Then he rigorously proved one point after another with numerous citations and seemingly impeccable logic, laying foundation upon foundation until he had built a stunning intellectual edifice and resolved all the questions and difficulties in one sweeping revelation of the true meaning of the sugya.
Those among the audience who were able to follow the intricacies of Rav Levi Yitzchok’s reasoning were awed by his insight and genius. Rav Uziel, however, was not so impressed. He pointed out an inconsistency in Rav Levi Yitzchok’s reasoning, whereby the entire edifice collapsed. Rav Levi Yitzchok listened quietly. Then he nodded his head and walked away. Rav Uziel felt it was his duty to expose the Rav’s flaws, and he was pleased that he had done so. In the course of the next few months, this scenario repeated itself several times. Rav Levi Yitzchok would deliver a dazzling derosha, and Rav Uziel would dismember it with a few surgical arguments and questions.
