Yitzchok Friedman

Rabbi Yitzchok Friedman (1850 – 11 March 1917) was the founder and first Rebbe of the Boyan Hasidic dynasty. He was known as the Pachad Yitzchok (''Dread of Isaac''). He authored "Pachad Yitzchok," a collection of his teachings and sermons, which is studied within the Boyaner community.

Early life

Yitzchok Friedman was born in Sadigura, Duchy of Bukovina, in the former Austro-Hungarian Empire (now Chernivtsi Oblast, Ukraine). Friedman was the eldest son of Rabbi Avrohom Yaakov Friedman (1820–1883), the first Sadigura Rebbe,Friedman, Yisroel. ''The Golden Dynasty: Ruzhin, the royal house of Chassidus''. Jerusalem: The Kest-Lebovits Jewish Heritage and Roots Library, 2nd English edition, 2000, p. 76. and his wife, Miriam. He was the grandson of Rabbi Yisroel of Ruzhin (1797–1851), founder of the Ruzhin dynasty.

At 15, Friedman married Malka Twersky, daughter of Rabbi Yochanan Twersky, the Rachmastrivka Rebbe. They had four sons and one daughter.

Founding of Boyaner Hasidism

After his father's death in 1883, Rabbi Yitzchok and his younger brother, Rabbi Yisrael (1852–1907), jointly led their father's Hasidim. Some Sadigura Hasidim preferred a single Rebbe, so in 1887, the brothers drew lots to decide who would remain in Sadigura. Rabbi Yisrael stayed, while Rabbi Yitzchok moved to Boiany, establishing his court and becoming the first Boyaner Rebbe.

Under Friedman's leadership, Boiany became a Hasidic center with a synagogue and four prayer houses. Boyaner communities were established in neighboring towns as well as in Jerusalem, Tiberias, and Safed. Rabbi Yitzchok encouraged Dov Ber Horenstein, one of his wealthy childless Hasidim, to build houses in Jerusalem as a memorial for himself. The neighborhood founded by Dov Ber Horenstein was formed near what is now known as Geula.

Friedman lived in a palatial home, reflecting the Ruzhin tradition founded by his grandfather, Rabbi Yisrael of Ruzhin. He was revered by his Hasidim and formed close relationships with them. He was also known for his Torah knowledge and his love for the Land of Israel. He inherited the title of ''Nasi'' (president) of Kolel Vohlin in the Land of Israel from his father, taking on the responsibility of coordinating all funds sent for the welfare of the Orthodox community in Israel.

Final years and succession

At the beginning of World War I, the Russian army occupied Boiany and the Jewish neighborhood was destroyed. Friedman and his family fled to Vienna.

In 1916, Friedman fell seriously ill but recovered. On 11 March 1917 (17 Adar 5677), he fell ill again and called for his wife and children to bid them farewell. He died singing a ''nigun'' of ''deveikut'' (attachment to God).Friedman, ''The Golden Dynasty'', p. 81. Friedman was buried in the Vienna Jewish cemetery. His eldest son, Rabbi Menachem Nachum (1869–1936), was buried in the same '' ohel''.

After the war, Friedman's four sons moved to different countries to establish their courts. Rabbi Menachem Nachum, his eldest son, became the Boyaner Rebbe in Chernowitz, Bukovina. Rabbi Menachem Nachum's son-in-law, Rabbi Moshenu (1841–1943), became the Boyaner Rebbe in Kraków, Poland. Friedman's second son, Rabbi Yisroel (1878–1951), became the Boyaner Rebbe in Leipzig, Germany. His third son, Rabbi Avrohom Yaakov (1884–1941), became the Boyaner Rebbe in Lemberg (now Lviv, Ukraine). His fourth son, Rabbi Mordechai Shlomo (1891–1971), became the Boyaner Rebbe in New York.

After the death of Rabbi Mordechai, the Boyaner dynasty was without a leader until 1984, when Shlomo's grandson, Rabbi Nachum Dov Brayer (born 1959), was crowned Boyaner Rebbe. The dynasty is now headquartered in Jerusalem, Israel, where Brayer resides.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Friedman, Yitzchok
1850 births
1917 deaths
19th-century rabbis from the Russian Empire
20th-century Russian rabbis
Austrian Haredi rabbis
Rebbes of Boyan
Bukovina Jews
Rabbis from Austria-Hungary
Clergy from Chernivtsi