Yitzchak Eizik Halevi Epstein was a rabbi and scholar associated with the

Chabad Chabad, also known as Lubavitch, Habad and Chabad-Lubavitch (), is an Orthodox Jewish Hasidic dynasty. Chabad is one of the world's best-known Hasidic movements, particularly for its outreach activities. It is one of the largest Hasidic group ...

Hassidic Hasidism, sometimes spelled Chassidism, and also known as Hasidic Judaism (Ashkenazi Hebrew: חסידות ''Ḥăsīdus'', ; originally, "piety"), is a Jewish religious group that arose as a spiritual revival movement in the territory of contem ...

movement. He served as the rabbi of the Chabad community in

Homel Gomel (russian: Гомель, ) or Homiel ( be, Гомель, ) is the administrative centre of Gomel Region and the second-largest city in Belarus with 526,872 inhabitants (2015 census). Etymology There are at least six narratives of the or ...

White Russia White Russia, White Russian, or Russian White may refer to: White Russia *White Ruthenia, a historical reference for a territory in the eastern part of present-day Belarus * An archaic literal translation for Belarus/Byelorussia/Belorussia * Ru ...

. In the Chabad community, he is known as Reb Aizel Homiler (or Reb Eizik Homiler).

History

Rabbi Yitzchak Eizik Epstein was born in 1770 and joined the Chabad Hassidic movement during the lifetime of the first Chabad Rebbe, Rabbi

Schneur Zalman of Liadi Shneur Zalman of Liadi ( he, שניאור זלמן מליאדי, September 4, 1745 – December 15, 1812 O.S. / 18 Elul 5505 – 24 Tevet 5573) was an influential Lithuanian Jewish rabbi and the founder and first Rebbe of Chabad, a branch of Ha ...

. Rabbi Epstein later served as the

Av Beth Din The ''av beit din'' ( ''ʾabh bêth dîn'', "chief of the court" or "chief justice"), also spelled ''av beis din'' or ''abh beth din'' and abbreviated ABD (), was the second-highest-ranking member of the Sanhedrin during the Second Temple period, ...

in White Russia for over 50 years. Rabbi Yitzchak Eizik was a leading Hassidic figure during the first three generations of Chabad Hassidism. He authored a number of works on the subject of

Chabad philosophy Chabad philosophy comprises the teachings of the leaders of Chabad-Lubavitch, a Hasidic movement. Chabad Hasidic philosophy focuses on religious concepts such as God, the soul, and the meaning of the Jewish commandments. Teachings are often drawn ...

including ''Sh'tei HaMeorot'' (Brooklyn, 1971) and ''Chanah Ariel'' (Berditchov, 1912).Gurary, Eliyahu, Yochanan
''Toldot Yitzchak Eizik HaLevi Epstein''
Kehot Publication Society. 1987. Accessed April 23, 2014."Lot 204: Judaica: Letter from Rabbi Yitzchak Eizik Epstein of Homel."
''Invaluable.com''. September 7, 2009. Accessed April 23, 2014.

Family

Rabbi Yitzchak Eizik's father was Rabbi Mordechai Halevi Epstein. His grandfather was Rabbi Dovid Halevi Epstein, chief rabbi of

Lutsk Lutsk ( uk, Луцьк, translit=Lutsk}, ; pl, Łuck ; yi, לוצק, Lutzk) is a city on the Styr River in northwestern Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Volyn Oblast (province) and the administrative center of the surrounding Lu ...

. Rabbi Yitzchak Eizik had one son, Yaakov Yosef.

Rabbi of Homel

In 1805 Rabbi Yitzchak Eizik was appointed as rabbi of the Hassidic community in Homel. He held the position for over 50 years, until his death in 1857. Rabbi Yitzchak Eizik was also head of the

yeshiva A yeshiva (; he, ישיבה, , sitting; pl. , or ) is a traditional Jewish educational institution focused on the study of Rabbinic literature, primarily the Talmud and halacha (Jewish law), while Torah and Jewish philosophy a ...

in Homel, as well the

kollel A kollel ( he, כולל, , , a "gathering" or "collection" f scholars is an institute for full-time, advanced study of the Talmud and rabbinic literature. Like a yeshiva, a kollel features shiurim (lectures) and learning ''sedarim'' (sessions); ...

Works

*''Maamer Sh'tei HaMeorot'' (Brooklyn, 1971) *''Chanah Ariel'' commentary on the Pentateuch (Berditchov, 1912) *''Maamer Yetzias Mitzraim'' (Vilna 1877) *''Maamer Hashiflus V'hasimcha'' (Warsaw, 1868)

References

External links