ר׳ יצחק אייזיק אייכנשטיין מזידיטשוב

ר׳ יצחק אייזיק אייכנשטיין מזידיטשוב (1805–1873), known as מהרי״א מזידיטשוב, was an important Galician Hasidic rebbe and kabbalist. A son of ר׳ ישכר בעריש אייכנשטיין of Safrin, he became the close disciple of his uncle ר׳ צבי הירש מזידיטשוב, author of עטרת צבי, and absorbed the dynasty’s distinctive emphasis on systematic study of the Zohar and Lurianic Kabbalah. He also learned from ר׳ שלום רוקח of Belz. Although he functioned as a spiritual leader earlier, tradition records that he declined the formal title of Rebbe until the death of the שר שלום in 1855. His court at Zhydachiv drew thousands and became a principal centre for the transmission of Zidichov Kabbalah. His foremost disciple, ר׳ יוסף מאיר וייס, later founded the Spinka dynasty. His teachings were published after his death in ליקוטי תורה והש״ס, ליקוטי מהרי״א and commentaries on Midrash, combining Hasidic homily with extensive Zoharic and Lurianic interpretation. He died on 9 Sivan 5633, 4 June 1873, and was buried at Zhydachiv.