Rav Yochonon was born on 17 Av 5663/1903 in Rachmastrivka, to Rav Dovid of Rachmastrivka.
A scion of the Czernobyl dynasty, he later became the son-in-law of Rav Nachman Yosef Willhelm of Yerushalayim. Raised and educated in his father’s home, he continued his Torah studies even under the Communist regime. A band of murderers once captured him and was going to hang him – but he was saved in the nick of time by a miracle. In 5686, the family moved to Eretz Yisrael and reestablished the dynasty in the Holy Land. Rav Yochonon was among the first talmidim to attend Yeshivas Sefas Emes back in those days.
After his father’s petira in 5710 he was crowned his father’s successor and he built up the Chassidus into one of the most important dynasties and courts in Yerushalayim. He founded Yeshivas Meor Einayim named after the founder of the Czernobyler’s sefer. He himself cared for the Yeshiva’s students and knew each one by name, personally seeing to their needs and taking care of their problems.
He had the custom to daven for lengthy amounts of time at the Kosel. His customs were exemplified by humility and simplicity and warm, strong bonds of friendship and love.
At his levaya thousands were in attendance and he was laid to rest on Har HaZeisim.
His son Rav Yisrael Mordechai was appointed to succeed him as Rachmastrivka Rebbe in Yerushalayim, and his son Rav Chai Yitzchok as Rachmastrivka Rebbe in New York.
