Rav Shmuel Shmelke Horowitz Divrei Shmuel

TRUTH AND WISDOM

Rav Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev is most famous for being one of the greatest of the early Chassidic masters, an extraordinary Tzaddik aflame with love for Hashem and His people. At the same time, he was an outstanding Gaon who served as the Rav and head of the rabbinical court in the city with which he is associated. He did not, however, take the post of Rav of Berditchev until 1785, when he was forty-five years old. Before that, he was Rav in several other cities, the first of which was Ryczywohl. The illustrious Rav Schmelke of Nikolsburg had been the Rav of Ryczywohl before being invited to serve as Rav of Nikolsburg. When he left, he was succeeded by his brilliant talmid, Rav Levi Yitzchok, who