Rav Yitzchak Isaac HaLevi Epstein zt"l
הרב יצחק אייזיק בן מרדכי אפשטיין זצ"ל
Iyar 26 , 5617
Known As: of Homel, Maamar Hashefelos V'Hasimcha
Father's Name: Mordechai Epstein
Rav Yitzchak Isaac HaLevi Epstein zt"l
Son of Rav Mordechai HaLevi Epstein, Rav Yitzchak Isaac was born around the year 5530 (1770). He received his primary education from his grandfather, Rav Dovid HaLevi Epstein, Chief Rabbi of Lutsk.
In 5565 (1805), he was appointed as Rav of Homel. His discourses were deep and profound, and his tefillos were quite lengthy. Tradition has it that his davening once took eight hours, during which he remained standing in a fixed position, without moving, the entire time.
He was a disciple of the Baal HaTanya, Rav Shneur Zalman of Liadi, who was the founder of Chabad chassidus, as well as of his son Rav Dov Ber, known as the Mittler Rebbe, and his grandson, Rav Menachem Mendel of Lubavitch, author of Tzemach Tzedek.
It was said of Rav Yitzchak Isaac that he was so attached to his mentors and rebbes that to hear their chassidic discourses and lectures was for him, literally a matter of life and death!
The Tzemach Tzedek testified that his genius was so vast that it stretched from one end of the world to the other.
When one of the opponents of chassidus called him for a debate in Mogilev, he was challenged to answer questions on the Bavli and Yerushalmi. He answered them so well and with such skill that he amazed his opponent and all those present.
He was often sent as a shaliach, an emissary and representative of the Chabad rebbes on various missions, including a meeting with Rav Yisrael of Ruzhin as well as to the capital city of St Petersburg. He attended two rabbinical conferences there in 5612 (1852) and 5615 (1855).
At age seventy he began to lead followers. He dressed in the white garments of a rebbe but forbade chassidim to come from out of town.
Among his most famous disciples were Rav Hillel of Paritsch, Rav Menachem Nachum of Tsheringov, Rav Aryeh Leibush Epstein, Av Beis Din of Lviv, Rav Moshe Meirov, Rav Elazar Ziva of Mazur and his son Rav Aryeh Leib of Dinberg.
He was a prolific author whose works include:
Chanah Ariel al HaTorah, Chanah Ariel Ma’amarim (Various topics), Chanah Ariel on Matzah and Arba Kosos, Ma’amer Hashiflus V'hasimcha, Ma’amer Yetzias Mitzrayim, and Ma’amer Shtei HaMeoros.
He passed away on 26 Iyar 5617 (1857) and was laid to rest in Homel. His grave became a pilgrimage site for locals seeking yeshuos.
He left behind one son, Rav Yaakov Yosef, and two sons-in-law, Rav Eliezer Shimon Tomarkin and Rav Tzvi Dov Latker, who succeeded his father-in-law in Homel.