Rav Bertzi, a scion of the Premishlan dynasty, was born in the year 5610/תר''י. He was the second son of Rav Mordechai, the founder of the Nadvorna dynasty, and was named Yissochar Dov after his illustrious grandfather.
Rav Bertzi once complained that he didn’t receive as many letters from his father as his brothers did. His father replied, “How can you compare yourself to your brothers? When I write to you, I have to be extra careful that I properly fulfill the mitzvah of kibud av – honoring my father, after whom you were named – and this requires extra preparation!”
He married Toiva Rachel, the daughter of Rav Eliezer Brandwein of Ozpila (author of Degel Machane Yehuda and son of Rav Yehuda Tzvi of Stretin). His second wife was Devorah, the daughter of Rav Yehoshua Heschel Eichenstein of Chodrov-Ziditchov.
Rav Bertzi was renowned as a gaon of the revealed Torah and Shas. His home was filled with seforim from wall to wall, and Rav Bertzi himself testified that he had learned every one of his seforim cover to cover. One of Rav Bertzi’s chevrusas, Rav Yonason Binyamin Kohen (Dayan and Rav of Selish), said, “Rav Bertzi knows all the gates of Bava Kama, Metzia and Basra by heart!” Rav Bertzi’s father, Rav Mordechai, also praised his son highly, stating, “What Mordechai knows, Bertzi knows; however, what Bertzi knows, Mordechai does not!”
Even when Rav Bertzi assumed the role of Rebbe, he kept up an intense learning schedule. Rav Bertzi’s son Rav Yosef, the Tzidkas Yosef of Pittsburgh, once told his son, Rav Avrohom Abba of Pittsburgh: “When your grandfather concluded his tish, he conducted 24 sedarim of Torah learning!”
In addition to his strong commitment to learning, Rav Bertzi also had more mystical skills. He was able to perform exorcism when necessary, and the sefer Eidus BeYehosef (Pittsburgh addendum to the new editions of Tzidkas Yosef) includes several stories about how the Rebbe rectified the souls of dybbuks that troubled and possessed others.
Rav Bertzi held court in Bochnia, Galicia during his father’s lifetime. After his father passed away, he moved to Selish for some five years, and then relocated to Satmar in the year 5660/תר''ס.
He came to settle in Bochnia quite unexpectedly. Several Nadvorna Chassidim living in Vizhnitz had invited Rav Bertzi to spend Shabbos with them. In order get there, Rav Bertzi travelled by train to Bochnia, from where he intended to take a coach to Vizhnitz. However, once the Chassidim in Bochnia heard of the Rebbe’s imminent arrival, they decided to detain the tzaddik and keep his holy presence in their midst. They prepared a well-furnished apartment for him, and rushed to greet him as soon as he alighted from the train. There stood both welcoming parties: the locals from Bochnia and the Chassidim from Vizhnitz. Each group claimed that the Rebbe should stay with him, and neither was willing to give him up without a fight. Eventually, the residents of Bochnia won out, and Rav Bertzi moved into the apartment they had prepared for him and established his court there.
Rav Bertzi had several unusual holy customs. He never stepped barefoot on the way to the mikvah, so as not to walk where other’s impure bare feet had walked before him. He also never touched metal with his bare skin. When he had to open a door, he would cover his hand with his sleeve so as not to touch the metal doorknob directly.
Each night, the Rebbe would enter the sleeping quarters of his children, observing them in their slumber and adjusting the yarmulkes on their heads. He once found a scrap of newspaper on the floor. In blaze of holy rage, he immediately threw it into the fire, shouting, “No newspaper shall be ever found in my home!”
Following the Nadvorna tradition, all his sons served as Rebbes: Rav Meir of Budapest in Cleveland, Ohio; Rav Isamar in Bishtina; Rav Aharon Moshe in Grosswardayn; Rav Dovid in Banya; Rav Yosef in Pittsburgh; and Rav Sholom in Brighton. His sons-in-law were also all Rebbes. His daughter Gittel was married to Rav Shlomo Bergman, and afterwards to Rav Yitzchok Leifer of Debriczen-Bronx. His daughter Yente married Rav Yitzchok Yechezkel Hochman of Kishinov; his daughter Rachel married Rav Yissochar Berel of Stanislav; his daughter Leah married Rav Pinchos Rabinowitz; his daughter Feiga married Rav Meir Rosenbaum of Satmar; and his daughter Chaya Esther married Rav Yissochar Ber Rosenbaum of Strozhnitz.
Rav Bertzi passed away on a Wednesday, Parshas Nitzavim/Vayelech, on 22 Elul תרס''ו 5666.
