Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev (1740–1809) was a Hasidic master and Jewish leader.
He was also known as the "defense attorney" for the Jewish people because he would appeal to G‑d as if he were a lawyer, by addressing Him directly. Known for his compassion for every Jew, he was one of the most beloved leaders of Eastern European Jewry.
One year, it was Erev Pesach and Rav Levi Yitzchak asked his students to "Go around to each Jewish home in Berditchev and bring me all the Turkish tobacco, Austrian silk and chametz (bread or crumbs) that you can find."
"But everyone knows that Russia is at war with Turkey and Austria – and possession of tobacco and silk is strictly forbidden!" they said
Rabbi Levi Yitzchak insisted. Later that evening, the students returned carrying various containers of Turkish tobacco and rolls of Austrian silk. "But we couldn't find any chametz," they said.
Rabbi Levi Yitzhak looked heavenward and said, "Almighty God! The Russian Czar has his army stationed at the borders and in the towns – a million armed soldiers ready to arrest anyone who violates the decree of possessing this contraband. While You, God, have nine holy words in the Torah stating to remove bread from the house on Passover. How righteous are Your people Israel, who faithfully observe Your mitzvot!"
Another beautiful example of his advocacy is that the Jewish wagon drivers of Berdichev felt they had to be ready for work as soon as it became light, so in order to save time, they would put on their tefilin and daven quickly next to their wagons, and at the same time do all the little tasks necessary to prepare the wagons for the road that day.
When the Berditchever first saw them doing this, he raised his eyes towards Heaven, and exclaimed, "O Merciful Father, how wonderful are your children, the Jewish people. Even while they work, they pray!"
One day he approached the wagoners as they were completing their prayers and removing their tefilin and tallises. He then mumbled, "Whydoyoupraysofastnoonecanmakeoutthewords"
"What did you say?" they replied.
He repeated:"Whydoyoupraysofastnoonecanmakeoutthewords"
"Rabbi, please slow down. And a bit louder. We can't understand a word you are saying."
"So how to you expect The Holy One to understand and accept your prayers, the way you race through them?"
"But Rabbi," one of them responded, "It is just like a baby that is first learning to talk. It sounds like nonsense and no one can understand except the baby's mother; she can always understand her child."
The Berditchever loved this answer and repeated it at every opportunity.
As we stand on the cusp of Yom Kippur 5785, with our hostages still captive in Gaza, with many new bereaved families in Israel, with frightening antisemitism on just about every college campus in America, from the streets of Canada, to parliament in South Africa
May Hashem look at the good things we have done this year and forgive the bad.
May He see the overwhelming Ahavat Chinam
The Israelis across the country who opened their homes to strangers who had to evacuate southern Israel,
The huge sums of money donated to Israel,
The American Jews who ran to the stores as the war broke out and bought huge amounts of combat gear to be shipped to Israeli soldiers,
The Israelis who lined the streets as their fellow countrymen went off to war and thrust snacks and drinks onto the army vehicles passing,
Who went to army bases to make bbqs for the soldiers,
Who prayed their hearts out,
Who took on mitzvot by the thousands,
Who recited the entire book of Tehilim thousands of times,
The 100,000 Jews who came to recite slichot at the Kotel (Western Wall) just last night
Your nation who accepted bitter decrees against them,
Who stayed faithful to You even after their loved ones were killed or kidnapped, like the magnificent Hadas Levinshtern
Who once again lined the streets, but this time with flags as they said goodbye to their youngest and brightest who had given up their lives to fight for Your land and people
The children who drew pictures to send to soldiers
The thousands and thousands of Israeli mothers who lovingly prepared delicious meals for our soldiers week after week after week, who made meals for wives of IDF reservists,
The Jewish groups who came to Israel to show support and to volunteer in any way they could, including specialist doctors who left prestigious jobs for weeks on end
The taxi drivers who offered free rides to soldiers and to people going to visit their loved ones in hospital,
Beloved Israeli popstars like Hanan ben Ari who went to army bases all over the country to raise the soldiers' spirits,
The incredible Rabbi Shai Graucher, who, along with his brother, visited hundreds of wounded Israeli soldiers, bereaved children and families and released Hamas hostages and showered them with expensive gifts to bring smiles to their faces and comfort to a people grappling with crisis and devastation
The Israeli tech companies who helped locate missing persons,
The people who came to mass blood drives,
The reservists who spent 200 days last year fighting for the right of Israelis to live in their homeland, who lost money, who watched their fledgling businesses dwindle, who left behind wives and children and who are still in Gaza and Lebanon
The boundless ceaseless ahavat chinam, the love and kindness of fellow Jews
Please Hashem, we don’t have Rabbi Levi Yitzchak to advocate for us anymore. But in his place, please see these acts, because we need Your salvation and rachamim now more than ever.
May we all be inscribed and sealed for a beautiful New Year, filled with Hashem’s bounty and kindness.
Chabad.org and haggadot.com contributed to this article.
