History
Jewish community before 1989 – Ukraina / Житомирська область (obwód żytomierski)
Few mortals had the courage to so openly to fall foul of God as did the leader of the Berdyczów Chassids, the tzaddik Lewi Icchak.
His crowning achievement were the legendary "Berdyczów quarrels” with God which led to him being brought before a din torah - the highest Jewish religious court. The charysmatic tzaddik was well-known for his moral courage and outstanding mind. He was also famous for his cheerfulness and for his faith in human nature.
His rule in Berdyczów is considered a great miracle as it resulted, in the second half of the 18th century, in the overthrow of the authority of the orthodox rabbis which had existed since time immemorial.Their place was taken by followers of the new, mystical, religious trend - Chassidism. The triumph of these invigorating currents and Lewi Icchak's joyful rule caused Berdyczów to soon be proclaimed the "Wołyn Jerusalem”.
And indeed, this 18th century, now industrial, town on the Hniłopiat River near Żytomierz was especially exceptional with regard to miracles. The huge walls of the Carmelite monastery and church, which rise above it, remind us that already by midway through the 17th century, it was known as the "Ukrainian Częstochowa". It was called this by the Bishop of Kiev, Stanisław Zaremba, who regained his health through a miracle credited to a portrait of the Holy Mother of Berdyczów.
After the last war, during which the original painting was lost, Berdyczów's fame as a Marian sanctuary diminshed. However, the city attracts Chassidic pilgrims from around the world who come to pray at the grave of Lewi Icchak.
Berdyczów, apart from its spiritual legacy, has a prosaic tradition - trade. Favoured by Stanisław August with the extraordinary privilege of holding ten fairs annually, the city attracted merchants from Poland, Ukraine and Europe. Everyone, who considered himself a trader in the Kressy region, had to come at least a couple of times per year. On each visit, they would check to see if there was any mail held for them poste restante. It was, for this reason, that the saying went, "Write to me care of Berdyczów”. It was only later that it came to mean that you were deceiving someone.
Credit: Grzegorz Łyś, Pisz na Berdyczów, Rzeczpospolita, 26.08.2010, dostęp on-line.
The Administrator has made all possible efforts to present the content accuratly and up-to-date in a way that does not infringe upon the rights of third parties, including copyrights, but cannot guarantee it. Therefore erroneous information on the website may not be the basis for claims. If you have any questions, please contact us at the following e-mail address: sztetl@jewishmuseum.org.pl
