Rav Yitzchok Isaac Taub
The founder of the Kaliver dynasty and the first Rebbe in Hungary, who drew thousands back to teshuvah and gave Hungarian melodies new, holy words.
Biography
Early years
Rav Yitzchok Isaac Taub zy"a, the Kaliver Rebbe, was the son of Rav Moshe Yechezkel and Raizel. He was born in Serentsh, Hungary, and as a boy was taught by Rav Isaac of Pshevorsk, a melamed (teacher of young children) from Galicia who had been invited to teach in Serentsh.
It is told that Rav Leib Sarah's, a talmid of the Baal Shem Tov, first met him as a small shepherd boy. Rav Leib Sarah's told the boy's widowed mother that her son had a lofty soul from the supernal world of Song and was destined to become a great tzaddik. He drew the boy close to chassidus and brought him to learn with Rav Shmelke of Nikolsberg.
Chassidim relate that when Rav Leib Sarah's found him, the boy was singing a Hungarian shepherds' song, Erdő, erdő, about a man lost in a vast forest and far from his beloved rose. Rav Yitzchok Isaac then sang it again with new words. In his version the forest is the exile, the rose is the Shechinah (Divine Presence), and the singer longs to be led out of exile and joined with her.
Torah and leadership
Rav Yitzchok Isaac studied under Rav Shmelke of Nikolsberg and Rav Meilech of Lizhensk until 5541, when he returned to Kaliv. He married the daughter of his uncle, Rav Uziel Katz of Tertzal.
He lived in Kaliv for forty years, teaching Torah and chassidus throughout Hungary. He was known as the first Rebbe in Hungary, and thousands returned to Hashem through teshuvah (repentance) because of him.
His chassidim and talmidim included Rav Chaim Yosef Gottlieb of Stropkov, Rav Mendel and Rav Wolf, Rav Yosef and Rav Michoel of Nanash, Rav Mordechai of Tertzal, and Rav Aharon of Potik, his stepson. Rav Isaac of Zidatchov testified that Rav Mendel and Rav Wolf knew all the writings of the Arizal by heart.
Teachings and seforim
Rav Yitzchok Isaac was called the Sweet Singer of Israel. He wrote a great many chassidic nigunim (melodies), frequently adapting Hungarian folk songs by setting Jewish words to them and so turning them into sacred songs. His songs, especially the Hungarian ones, became famous for their heartfelt messages.
He taught that these melodies had truly originated in the Beis HaMikdash (Holy Temple) in Yerushalayim, and that they had been lost among the nations as the centuries passed. He had come upon them and brought them back to the Jewish people. His proof, he said, was that the non-Jew who taught him a song would forget it the moment the Rebbe learned it.
His most famous composition is Szól a kakas már, a Hungarian song whose verses end with a prayer for the rebuilding of the Beis HaMikdash and an acknowledgment that we remain in exile because of our sins. Another well-known song of his is Sírnak, rínak a bárányok, also in Hungarian.
Later years and passing
Rav Yitzchok Isaac passed away on Shabbos Kodesh, 7 Adar II 5581 (1821). His sons were Rav Moshe Chaim of Rozdal, son-in-law of Rav Tzvi Hirsch of Zidatchov, Rav Meir, and Rav Yaakov.
Legacy
The Kaliver dynasty, named for Kaliv (Nagykálló), began with Rav Yitzchok Isaac. Today it continues in two branches, which differ in how the title is spelled: the Kaliver Rebbe in Yerushalayim and the Kalover Rebbe in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
In Eretz Yisroel, Rav Menachem Mendel Taub founded Kiryas Kaliv in Rishon LeZion. Its first stone was set in place at the yahrzeit of the dynasty's founder, 7 Adar 5723 (3 March 1963).
Stories
The Rebbe Who Disappeared Before Yom Tov
It is told that on the day before each Yom Tov, Rav Yitzchok Isaac of Kaliv would disappear for many hours, and no one knew where he went. One year, on Erev Sukkos, Mr. Yaakov Fisch, the lay leader of the Kaliv Jewish community, was determined to discover the tzaddik's secret. While the Rebbe was busy, Reb Yankel hid in the wagon and remained unnoticed until the journey was well under way.
When he revealed himself, the Rebbe was visibly distressed. "What can I do with you now?" he said. He made Reb Yankel promise not to ask any questions, either of himself or of anyone else.
Soon they reached a city that Yankel did not recognize. The Rebbe stopped the wagon and walked down a narrow path that led to a mikveh, telling his passenger to wait while he immersed. Yankel waited until curiosity and impatience overcame him. Forgetting the promise, he climbed down and asked the first man he met, in Yiddish, "Excuse me, but where am I?"
"Don't you know where you are?" the man replied, astonished, thinking he was speaking to a madman. "Where do you think you are?" "I was in Kaliv, Hungary, a few hours ago," Yankel began. "Now I know you are mad," said the man. "How could anyone get from Kaliv to Tzfas in a few hours?" "Tzfas?" cried Yankel. "You are the one who is mad. How could I be in Tzfas, in Eretz Yisroel, if I was just in Kaliv?"
The argument grew heated, and Yankel forgot to hurry back. By the time he returned to the mikveh, the wagon was pulling away. He was beside himself. He was stranded in a town of meshugaim (insane people) who believed they were living in Tzfas. With no choice, he asked one of them to take him in for Sukkos.
In the first hours of the Yom Tov, seeing the unfamiliar customs and hearing people speak in the Holy Tongue and in Arabic as well as Yiddish, Yankel realized that he really was in Tzfas. It dawned on him that the Kaliver used a Divine Holy Name for kefitzas haderech (a miraculous contraction of a journey) to come to Tzfas every Erev Yom Tov, in order to immerse in the mikveh of the holy Arizal, Rav Yitzchok Luria. Along with his amazement came shock, for he now understood that he must remain in Tzfas until the Rebbe returned the following Yom Tov. How else could he get back to Europe?
Meanwhile, in Kaliv, the Fisch family was frantic about Yankel's sudden disappearance. They ran to the Rebbe for advice. The Kaliver smiled and assured them there was no cause for concern, promising that Mr. Fisch would return just in time for the Pesach Seder.
And so it was. Six months later, Yankel Fisch was delighted to see the tzaddik's wagon arrive at the Arizal's mikveh on Erev Pesach, and this time he made sure not to miss the ride home. The Rebbe made him promise not to reveal the incident in his lifetime. It became known only after the Rebbe passed away in 1821.
Hallel on Parshas Beshalach
Rav Yitzchok Isaac of Kaliv was once in Lizhensk for Parshas Beshalach. The Rebbe Elimelech asked the Kaliver to be absent when he said Torah at the tisch, for a secret reason that he would not divulge. But the Kaliver did not want to miss the chance to hear the Rebbe's chassidic discourse, and he stayed.
As soon as the Noam Elimelech began to say Torah, the Kaliver jumped up from the table and ran back and forth through the whole house, singing Hallel at the top of his voice. Everyone present was very surprised at such unusual behavior.
Afterward the Kaliver explained himself. "When the Rebbe spoke about the weekly parsha, I was filled with such excitement, and it set me so aflame with hislahavus (fiery enthusiasm), that I imagined myself to be in the midst of offering the Korban Pesach. And so I sang Hallel."
Teachings
Melodies from the Beis HaMikdash
Rav Yitzchok Isaac taught that the tunes he heard, even those that came from Hungarian folk songs, were really from the Beis HaMikdash. They had been lost among the nations over the years, and he had found them and returned them to the Jewish people. As proof, he said that the non-Jew who taught him a song would forget it as soon as the Rebbe had learned it.
Chassidic tradition about his nigunim
Seforim
- Szól a kakas már: His most famous song, a Hungarian chassidic melody whose verses end with a prayer for the rebuilding of the Beis HaMikdash.
- Erdő, erdő: A Hungarian shepherds' song that he adapted, giving it Jewish meaning as a longing for the Shechinah in exile.
- Sírnak, rínak a bárányok: Another famous Hungarian song of his.
Family & talmidim
Teachers: Rav Isaac of Pshevorsk, Rav Shmelke of Nikolsberg, Rav Meilech (Elimelech) of Lizhensk
Talmidim: Rav Chaim Yosef Gottlieb of Stropkov, Rav Mendel, Rav Wolf, Rav Yosef of Nanash, Rav Michoel of Nanash, Rav Mordechai of Tertzal, Rav Aharon of Potik (his stepson)
Children: Rav Moshe Chaim of Rozdal (son-in-law of Rav Tzvi Hirsch of Zidatchov), Rav Meir, Rav Yaakov
Historical sources
- Ohel Elimelech