Rav Yitzchak Isaac was born 25 Shevat 5556 (1806) in Sambor, Galicia.
At a young age he began to experience visions and display open ruach hakodesh. His uncle Tzvi Hirsch of Zidichov originally paid him two refinish a week to answer all of his questions, but when he was six years old, his uncle feared that these revelations would damage his spiritual well being and that such ruach hakodesh could hurt his yiras Shamayim, so he took away these powers and put an end to them.
Rav Yitzchak Isaac traveled alongside his father to meet with such tzaddikim as Rav Zev Wolf of Zbarazh and Rav Yitzchak Charif, Av Beis Din of Sambor, as well as the Chozeh of Lublin, who was also his shadchan, marrying the daughter of Rav Avraham Mordechai of Pintshuv. The Chozeh drew him very close and even handed the young nine year old his zeroah, the shankbone from his Seder plate.
When at age twelve he was orphaned, this led to a dangerous downward spiral of depression and spiritual malaise that threatened to overcome the young prodigy. He describes battling with the “evil one”, until eventually he entered a shul, cried to Hashem, and returned to avodas Hashem wholeheartedly.
He withstood the trial and eventually returned to the home of his uncle, Rav Tzvi Hirsch of Zidichov, who became his mentor and rebbe. After his uncle’s passing, he moved to Komarna and accepted the mentorship of his uncle Rav Moshe of Sambor. He also travelled to Rav Yisrael of Ruzhin, Rav Moshe Tzvi of Savran, and others.
In 5600 (1840), his uncle Rav Moshe passed away, and the chassidim of his uncles began to flock to him. Besides his greatness in Torah he began to be well known as a miracle worker and someone whose advice was sought after.
He was also very close with his cousin Rav Yitzchak Isaac of Zidichov and after his passing, the Komarna Rebbe, as he was now known, recited Kaddish for him even though he had his own sons.
He passed away on 10 Iyar 5634 (1874) and was laid to rest in Komarna.
His sons were Rav Alexander of Komarna, who passed away in his father’s lifetime, and Rav Eliezer Tzvi, who succeeded him. His daughter Hinda Sarah was the wife of Rav Menashe Yaakov Kleinberg.
His disciples included Rav Yosef Meir of Spinka, Rav Yehuda Gershon of Pickholz Rozdal, Rav Tzvi Hirsch of Liska, Rav Tzvi Hirsch Teicher of Krakow, Rav Menachem Mendel of Potilutsh, Rav Moshe HaLevi Jungreis, author of Toras Moshe Nosson, and Rav Dovid Feigels.
His sefarim include:
- Otzar haChaim and Heichal Haberacha on Chumash and Taryag Mitzvos
- Zohar Chai commentary on the Zohar HaKadosh
- Kesem Ofir on Megillas Esther
- Nidvas Pi on Meseches Kinnim, Toras Kohanim and Shekalim
- Notzer Chessed on Pirkei Avos
- Nesiv Mitzvosecha, Introduction to Otzar HaChaim and Derech Hachassidus
- Atzei Eden, Maaseh Oreg and Pnei Zaken on Seder Taharos, Moed, Nashim, Nezikin and Kodshim
- Asiris HaEifa on Toras Kohanim
- Pnei Zaken on Yerushalmi Shekalim
- Shulchan HaTahor a collection of customs and halachos of chassidus
