22 of the Hebrew month of Shvat – the anniversary of the death of Rabbi Issachar-Dov ha-Levi from Lyubavich, who was a teacher (Melamed) of the Old Rebbe, Schneur-Zalman from Liadi. Rav Issachar Dov was a close friend of the Magid (preacher) of Mezeritch, and then became a Hasid of the Old Rabbi. He even called him “Rabbi” which means “my teacher”.
When Rav Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk gone to Tiberias, he came to people who had to lead the Hasidic movement. It was Rav Issachar Dov and Rav Shneur Zalman, “the Old Rabbi”.
About a year ago, during the restoration works of the Lubavitch cemetery, conducted under the leadership of Rabbi Gavriel Gordon, was discovered the tombstone of Rabbi Issachar Dov from Lyubavich.
In the “Book of Memories” of Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak, we read that Issachar Dov was rav of Lyubavich. He took this position after his father, Rav Yosef, who called Magid from Lyubavich. Rabbi Yosef was a student of the founder of Hasidism Israel Baal Shem Tov.
At the same time for several years he was a teacher of Schneur Zalman, the future founder of HABAD Hasidism.
Also Rav Issachar-Ber was one of three Hasidic teachers (along with rav Shneur Zalman and rav Yisrael from Polotsk), who organized among the Hasidim Lithuania and Russia regularly collect funds for the support of the Hasidic community in the Holy Land.
Son of Rabbi Issachar-Ber was the famous Chassid. His name was Rabbi Yosef, and the Hasidim call him “uncle Josele”. Later, rav Yosef was a hassid of reb Schneur Zalman, and uncle of the third Lubavitcher Rebbe, “Tzemach Tzedek”. (Rabbi Yosef was married to the sister of Rabbi Shalom-Sahna, the father of the Tzemach Tzedek).
The discovery of a tombstone of Rabbi Issachar-Dov allowed to detect the date of his death – 22 Shevat 5554. Before the date of death of the Rabbi was unknown. Tombstone is very old. He is simultaneously on two graves.
Who is buried next to Rabbi Issachar-Dov, is unclear. We can assume that this is some kind of “frumer” man who wanted to be buried near to the Rabbi.
The inscription on the gravestone reads:
“Here is buried the Rabbi, the great luminary, the judge, the teacher of righteousness, the famous Hasid, hallowed be his name, Rav Issachar-ber, son of our teacher Shlomo Segal.
Died 22 Shevat 5554.
May his soul be numbered among the living.”
On the left of the headstone is written:
“Here is buried man straight, God-fearing, our teacher Yitzchak son of our teacher Yehuda-Leib. Died 24-25 Tishrei 555(4?) of the year”.