Rebbe Yitzchak Isaac Yehudah Yechiel Safrin of Komarna zt"l
הרב יצחק אייזיק יהודה יחיאל בן אלכסנדר סנדר סאפרין זצ"ל
Iyar 10 , 5634
Rebbe Yitzchak Isaac Yehudah Yechiel Safrin of Komarna zt"l
Rav Yitzchak Isaac was born 25 Shevat 5556 (1806) in Sambor, Galicia.
At a young age he began to experience visions and display open ruach hakodesh. His uncle Tzvi Hirsch of Zidichov originally paid him two refinish a week to answer all of his questions, but when he was six years old, his uncle feared that these revelations would damage his spiritual well being and that such ruach hakodesh could hurt his yiras Shamayim, so he took away these powers and put an end to them.
Rav Yitzchak Isaac traveled alongside his father to meet with such tzaddikim as Rav Zev Wolf of Zbarazh and Rav Yitzchak Charif, Av Beis Din of Sambor, as well as the Chozeh of Lublin, who was also his shadchan, marrying the daughter of Rav Avraham Mordechai of Pintshuv. The Chozeh drew him very close and even handed the young nine year old his zeroah, the shankbone from his Seder plate.
When at age twelve he was orphaned, this led to a dangerous downward spiral of depression and spiritual malaise that threatened to overcome the young prodigy. He describes battling with the “evil one”, until eventually he entered a shul, cried to Hashem, and returned to avodas Hashem wholeheartedly.
He withstood the trial and eventually returned to the home of his uncle, Rav Tzvi Hirsch of Zidichov, who became his mentor and rebbe. After his uncle’s passing, he moved to Komarna and accepted the mentorship of his uncle Rav Moshe of Sambor. He also travelled to Rav Yisrael of Ruzhin, Rav Moshe Tzvi of Savran, and others.
In 5600 (1840), his uncle Rav Moshe passed away, and the chassidim of his uncles began to flock to him. Besides his greatness in Torah he began to be well known as a miracle worker and someone whose advice was sought after.
He was also very close with his cousin Rav Yitzchak Isaac of Zidichov and after his passing, the Komarna Rebbe, as he was now known, recited Kaddish for him even though he had his own sons.
He passed away on 10 Iyar 5634 (1874) and was laid to rest in Komarna.
His sons were Rav Alexander of Komarna, who passed away in his father’s lifetime, and Rav Eliezer Tzvi, who succeeded him. His daughter Hinda Sarah was the wife of Rav Menashe Yaakov Kleinberg.
His disciples included Rav Yosef Meir of Spinka, Rav Yehuda Gershon of Pickholz Rozdal, Rav Tzvi Hirsch of Liska, Rav Tzvi Hirsch Teicher of Krakow, Rav Menachem Mendel of Potilutsh, Rav Moshe HaLevi Jungreis, author of Toras Moshe Nosson, and Rav Dovid Feigels.
His sefarim include:
Otzar haChaim and Heichal Haberacha on Chumash and Taryag Mitzvos
Zohar Chai commentary on the Zohar HaKadosh
Kesem Ofir on Megillas Esther
Nidvas Pi on Meseches Kinnim, Toras Kohanim and Shekalim
Notzer Chessed on Pirkei Avos
Nesiv Mitzvosecha, Introduction to Otzar HaChaim and Derech Hachassidus
Atzei Eden, Maaseh Oreg and Pnei Zaken on Seder Taharos, Moed, Nashim, Nezikin and Kodshim
Asiris HaEifa on Toras Kohanim
Pnei Zaken on Yerushalmi Shekalim
Shulchan HaTahor a collection of customs and halachos of chassidus
Stories of Rebbe Yitzchak Isaac Yehudah Yechiel Safrin of Komarna zt"l
“Because bribery blinds the wise and distorts the words of the Tzaddikim” (23:8).
Rav Yitzchok Isaac of Komarna writes (Heichal HaBerocha Mishpotim 2:4) that according to our Sages in Kesubos 105a, even a complete Tzaddik who takes a bribe will be blinded. However, this statement is wondrous and strange indeed, says the Komarna. How can someone who takes bribes be called a complete Tzaddik?! The answer to this, explains the Komarner, can be understood based on the following true story about the Apta Rav, Rav Avrohom Yehoshua Heschel, mechaber of Ohev Yisrael:
In his younger days, Rav Avrohom Yehoshua Heschel was Rav in Kolbasof and served as a Dayan in the rabbinical court of that city and its environs. He once sat with two other judges to rule on a matter of some importance, when the other two had accepted a bribe to rule in favor of one of the litigants in the case. They tried to rule on this matter in favor of the man who had bribed them but the Ohev Yisrael kept insisting that their judgment was incorrect and inconsistent with the Halocha. The other Dayonim advised this man to bribe the Ohev Yisrael as well. The litigant, however, realized that it would not work because the Ohev Yisrael was a Tzaddik and would never accept a bribe from him directly.
They gave the litigant an idea – to place the bribe money secretly into the pockets of his Rosh Chodesh bekeshe, the long fine satin coat he wore in honor of Rosh Chodesh. The man filled the Rav’s pockets with gold and no one knew. When the Rav sat in judgment, he was amazed that all of a sudden he began to hear the “truth” in their arguments and that their previously false and skewed judgments now sounded correct to him. However, he knew it was wrong and so he kept pushing off ruling on the matter. The Ohev Yisrael was confused how his judgments could be so perverted and clouded as to agree to something he knew in his heart to be wrong and against the Halocha.
Then came Rosh Chodesh. When he went to put on his garments, he felt them to be unusually heavy. The Ohev Yisrael was dumbfounded when he placed his hands in his pockets and discovered them to be full of gold coins. He questioned his household and found out that the litigant had been spotted visiting his rooms. He realized that he must have been secretly bribed! Now he understood why his previous judgments were being perverted and how his mind was being distorted by the bribe that he had unknowingly received! He summoned the litigant and the latter admitted to his attempt to bribe the Rav. Immediately, the Rav handed him back the bribe money and removed himself from the case.
Now, said the Ohev Yisrael, I understand the pasuk that says bribes “distort the words of Tzaddikim”. Even a complete Tzaddik who accepts a bribe unknowingly will have his words and judgments distorted!
Once, when Rav Eizekel of Komarna was traveling, he reached a small village near Kleinwerdayn. He was greatly surprised at the cold welcome he received, so he asked one of the villagers where everyone was. The latter explained that a tragedy had happened, and the whole village was gathered at so and so’s house. There the father lay in bed, in the throes of imminent death, and in the next room cried his eight-day-old son whose bris mila was supposed to take place that day. Sighing sadly, the man continued, “The villagers are all waiting for the father to leave this world so that when they perform the bris they will name the poor orphan after his father.”
Hearing this sad tale, the Komarner immediately told his coachman to hurry to the house. Sure enough, there he found the villagers mourning the coming death and delaying the bris. “Hurry up”, said the Tzaddik, “get ready for the bris – no delay!” So saying, he wrapped himself in his Tallis and sat himself down as sandak, himself performing the bris. Afterward, he sent one of the villagers with some money and instructions, “Go purchase some bread, herring and wine for the seudas mitzva.” Soon the villagers were seated at the table, unable to refuse the Tzaddik, and they celebrated the bris, while next door the father lay on his deathbed.
Before bensching (the Grace After Meals), their astonishment grew. “And now,” announced the Tzaddik, “please sing Yom LeYabosha (a traditional song at a bris) and let’s dance.” Unable to turn down the honorable Tzaddik, the astonished villagers did as they were told. Suddenly, the father himself stopped making death-rattle noises, and his eyes miraculously opened. “I am cold,” he cried out. “Bring me some clothes.” Soon he was dressed and dancing, celebrating at the bris of his son. The man was healthy all the days of his life.
(Ner Yehoshua).