(Elul 3, 5608 / 1848 - 176th Yahrzeit)
Rav Yissochor Dov Ber Leifer was the son of Rav Yitzchok of Kalusch, a scion of the Premishlan dynasty.
In his youth, Rav Bertche, as he was fondly called, learned together with his uncle, Rav Meir of Premishlan, under his illustrious grandfather, Rav Aharon Leib of Premishlan. Rav Meir said of his young nephew, “If I had the fire of Rav Bertche, I would devour the entire world.”
Rav Bertche married the daughter of Rav Avrohom Leib Shochet.
He traveled to the court of Rav Yitzchok of Radvill, the son of Rav Yechiel Michel of Zlotchov. Following the petira of Rav Yitzchok, Rav Bertche was appointed Rebbe, holding court in Nadvorna.
He was known for his enthusiastic tefillos.
In the year of his passing, cholera broke out in the Jewish community, causing many deaths. Rav Bertche took upon himself to be the kappora of Klal Yisrael. He was niftar on the third of Elul 5608/1848, and with his petira the epidemic stopped.
His sons were Rav Aharon Leib of Nadvorna, Rav Mordechai of Nadvorna-Bursztyn, Rav Yosef of Bursha and Rav Yisrael.
His sons-in-law were Rav Moshe of Kalusch; Rav Yitzchok Dov of Nadvorna; and Rav Feivish, who lived in Zhabrizh.
Some of the Divrei Torah of Rav Bertche were published as a section of his son’s sefer, Maamar Mordechai.
Zechuso yagen aleinu.
