The Passing of the Berditchever
There is a tradition from the Maggid of Petriva and Rav Yisrael of Vizhnitz that Rav Levi Yitzchok passed away right after Sukkos. They related that the Berditchever grew weak after Yom Kippur, and his condition was life-threatening. He davened that he might live a little longer so that he would merit to fulfill the mitzva of waving the four species, which he yearned and waited for all year long. His tefillos were answered and he lived until Isru Chag (the day after Sukkos). He passed away on the night of the twenty-fifth of Tishrei.
When news spread of his passing, one of the Chassidim of Rav Boruch of Mezhibuzh rushed to tell his Rebbe. Rav Boruch was known to criticize Rav Levi Yitzchok’s ways, and the Chassid thought he was bringing “good” news. Instead, Rav Boruch practically fainted and began to cry and wail in distress.
He admonished the harbinger of such terrible news. “Don’t think that when I spoke against Rav Levi Yitzchok I did so in order to diminish his stature or blemish his honor! Rav Levi Yitzchok rose to the loftiest levels, to the highest spiritual realms above that of even the ministering angels, and I was afraid they would harm him in their jealousy. Therefore I used trickery and guile to hide my intentions and pretended to belittle and mock his holy ways to silence their jealous accusations.”
When Rav Nachman of Breslov talked about the passing of Rav Levi Yitzchok, he said, “Even the average individual should feel the loss of a Tzaddik such as Rav Levi Yitzchok. Everyone now feels that there is something lacking in the world. There is a depressed mood everywhere. One might feel it in his business, which no longer runs as smoothly as before. Another might feel it in his bones, which somehow seem displaced. If your eyes are truly open, you will see that the world has become dark, for a great light has been extinguished in the world. A great candle’s light has been snuffed out and the world has filled with a great darkness.”
“The Berditchever said before he passed away that when he arrived in the next world he would not rest nor give any other Tzaddik respite until he succeeded in bringing Moshiach.” Thus spoke Rav Avrohom Yehoshua Heschel of Apta and Mezhibuzh on the day he left this world. Before he passed away, the Apter Rav cried and wailed about our bitter exile. Why does Moshiach ben Yishai tarry so long? That is when he mentioned the Berditchever’s promise. “However,” he concluded, “when he ascended on high, they showed him such lofty spiritual levels and engaged him in such magnificent supernal chambers that he grew distracted and forgot his mission.
“I, however, will not forget!”
Sources:
Toldos Kedushas Levi (Munkacz) 8:103; see also Sichos HaRan 196.
Toldos Kedushas Levi (Munkacz) 8:108; Eser Oros 3:22.
Toldos Kedushas Levi (Munkacz) 8:105; see also Sichos HaRan 196.
Otzar HaSippurim, vol. 18, p. 25.
