Rav Tzvi Aryeh Landau of Olik zt"l
הרב צבי אריה בן אברהם לאנדאו זצ"ל
Tishrei 3 , 5572 / Tishrei 11 , 5572
Known As: Ohr Chachomim
Father's Name: Avrohom Landau
Rav Tzvi Aryeh Landau of Olik zt"l
Rav Tzvi Aryeh Landau was born on Motza’ei Yom Kippur, 5520 (1759). He was the son-in-law of Rav Gedaliah of Radomishil, near Lutzk, who was amongst the first of the chassidim.
According to chassidic tradition, the Baal Shem Tov saw Rav Tzvi Aryeh as an infant and blessed him that his light should shine forth and illuminate the world. He was a disciple and talmid muvhak of Rav Yechiel Michel of Zlatchov.
In 5541 (1780), while still young, he founded the Olik dynasty, near Rubena, Dubno and Lutzk. He established a center of chassidus and a court comprising of several buildings. Rav Tzvi Aryeh served as the rav of the city as well.
His Pesach Seder was famed, with hundreds in attendance yearly. Tradition has it that both Rav Baruch of Mezibuz and Rav Chaim of Volozhin were among his affectionate supporters.
His son, Rav Yosef Dovid, succeeded him in Olik. Rav Tzvi Aryeh’s sons-in-laws were Rav Moshe of Koristshuv and Rav Pinchas of Kolek, the son of Rav Zev Zhitomir and son-in-law of Rav Yochanan of Rachmistrivka.
Rav Tzvi Aryeh’s divrei Torah were never written down; fragments were later collected and published as Kovetz Tiferes Banim Avos.
He authored a sefer on Kabbala, Ohr Chachamim on the shaimos of Hashem and the ten sefiros. It was published later by a great-grandson and afterwards by a descendant, Rav Aharon Yaakov Brandwein, in his own Tal Oros.
In his haskama, Rav Yochanan of Rachmistrivka referred to Rav Tzvi Aryeh as “…a fiery seraph, an angel from on high, whose words were holy of holies from the mouth of a cherub and the realm of atzilus, a holy tzaddik and pure rebbe whose sanctity fills the entire world, the rabbi and master of the Diaspora...”
Rav Tzvi Aryeh passed away on the 11th (some say the 3rd) of Tishrei, 5572 (1811).