Reb Yosef Yitzchok was born to his father the Tzemach Tzeddek in 5582 (1822), in the city Lubavitch. He married his first cousin, the daughter of Reb Yaakov Yisroel of Tcherkas who was a son in law of the Mitteler Rebbe. After his chassunah, he settled in Horonsteipel near his father-in-law who supported him, and would visit his father and brothers in Lubavitch from time to time. Around the year 5617 (1857) he was appointed by his father-in-law to be the Rov in Avrutch and lead the Chernobler Chasidim there as a Rebbe. He became known for his mofsim and people flocked to Avrutch to see him. After 18 years of leadership, he passed away on 18 Kislev 5637 (1876). His daughter Rebbetzin Shterna Sara married the Rebbe Rashab.
Reb Yaakov Yisroel once asked his son-in-law what his custom is in regards to davening. Reb Yosef Yitzchok answered that he tries to daven betzibur and Reb Yaakov Yisroel was happy with the response (in Reb Yakov Yisroel’s circles, davening at length was not the custom). Reb Yaakov Yisroel once sent a messenger to call Reb Yosef Yitzchok but he was found still davening, although the minyan was long over. The messenger was sent again a while later but once more, he was found still davening and so it happened several times. When he finished davening, his father-in-law asked him, “Didn't you tell me that you daven 'betzibur'?”
Reb Yosef Yitzchok responded that he heard from his father, the Tzemach Tzeddek, in the name of the Alter Rebbe, that the idea of tefila betzibur is to collect and gather (tzibur means gathering) all of one's kochos hanefesh (inner faculties) and sparks of kedusha. Now that takes a lot of time.
(תו"מ חכ"ד ע' 277 )
The chassunah of Reb Yosef Yitzchok took place in the year 5596 (1836) and was attended by the Tzemach Tzedek and many Lubavitcher chassidim, as well as by the grandfather of the kallah, Reb Mottel Chernobler along with many Chernobler chassidim. When the Lubavitcher chasidim asked the Tzemach Tzedek to say Chassidus, the Chernobler Chasidim protested saying that Avrohom Avinu said “yukach na me'at mayim” implying that Torah (which is compared to water) is best kept short. The Lubavitcher chassidim argued that those words were said to people that appeared like Arabs. Yidden, however, need an abundance of Torah.
Reb Hillel Paritcher resolved their dispute by saying that the entire Torah is called a 'kad,' a pitcher of water, since there are 24 seforim in Tanach (כ"ד). Thus, however much Torah will be said, it will always be 'a little.'
(לקוטי סיפורים ע' קפב)
