Son of Rav Yitzchok of Kostanin. Rav Yosef Yoska was the son-in-law of Rav Aharon, who was the son of Shmuel, A’B’D Rovna.
He was a follower of Rav Dov Ber, the Maggid of Mezritch. It was due to Rav Yosef Yoka’s influence, that the Maggid came to live in Rovna. Rav Yosef Yoska was also a disciple of Rav Yechiel Michel of Zlatshuv and Rav Menachem Mendel of Premishlan.
He authored a two-volume sefer called, Yesod Yosef on Kabbalah and Likuutei Yosef on pilpulim and chiddushim on Shas.
Rav Yosef Yoska declined the rabbinate. According to the testimony of the Rebbe Reb Zusha of Anipoli, in a letter to the Chozeh of Lublin: “He was offered the position of chief rabbi by several cities and he refused them all, considering these positions a waste of time. He cited that it would interference with his hisbodedus in studying Torah and davening with chassidus and perishus.”
Rav Zusha also testified that his brother, the Rebbe Reb Elimelech of Lizensk, greatly admired Rav Yosef Yoska and said regarding him “Even if down here below he is dressed in black on Shabbos, in the supernal upper worlds he is dressed all in white!”
In his haskama, Rav Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev describes him as: “A G-dly individual, a holy man, a holy flame, full of learning, serving Hashem from a young age, never leaves the tent of Torah, an unceasing doer, an overflowing spring in revealed and hidden Torah; all hidden secrets are revealed before him.”
We do not know of any children. He passed away on the 17th of Elul, 1800) תק"ס).
