Anshe Libowitz אנשי ליובאוויטש: R. Eizik of Homel (1857)

R. Eizik of Homel (1857)

Rabbi Yitzchak Eizik Epstein (1770-1857), who served as the rabbi of the town of Homel in White Russia for 58 years, was a leading figure in the first three generations of Chabad Chassidism. As a young man, he became attracted to the teachings of the first Chabad Rebbe, Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, and remained a devoted follower of the 2nd and 3rd Rebbes, Rabbi DovBer and Rabbi Menachem Mendel. He authored a number of Chassidic works, including Sh'tei HaMeorot and Chanah Ariel.

"Belief in the coming of Moshiach and awaiting his imminent arrival is a basic tenet of the Jewish faith. It is clear, however, that conjecture as to the possible identity of Moshiach is not part of the basic tenet of Judaism. The preoccupation with identifying the Rebbe (zatza"l) as Moshiach is clearly contrary to the Rebbe's wishes. Together with the whole of Klal Yisrael we pray for the fulfillment of our collective yearning for Moshiach, in the spirit of the timeless Jewish declaration: ‘I await his (Moshiach's) coming each and every day." Vaad Rabbonei Lubavitch

“Ich halt [I hold] that Brisk is more anti-Zionist than Satmar. For a simple reason I’ll tell you. To Chabad and Brisk, yahadus is identified with Torah, with knowledge, with a conceptual system. As such, it is universal. You cannot say ‘On that spot of land there is a covenant between God and his people, and in another geographical spot there is no covenant.’ The Torah is the center.... This is Rav Chaim. This is Chabad also... Chabad speaks very little about Eretz Yisroel.” Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik

I will pursue with delight Thy commandments which I have come to love. Tehillim 119:47

My son, forget not My instruction, and may your heart keep My commandments for they shall add length of days and years of life and peace to you. Misheli 3:1

The end of the matter, everything having been heard, fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the entire man. Koheles 12:13

זְ֭מִרוֹת הָֽיוּ־לִ֥י חֻקֶּ֗יךָ בְּבֵ֣ית מְגוּרָֽי׃

Your laws are a source of strength to me wherever I may dwell. Tehillim 119

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R. Eizik of Homel (1857)