Rabbi Yitzchak Sternhartz of Tulchin, son of our Rebbe Rabbi Nosson of Breslov (Moharnat) >>> The story of his life, from birth until passing >>> For the Yahrtzeit 14 Adar II, 5630 (1870). Purim of the unwalled cities

His Birth

Rabbi Yitzchak, the third son of Moharnat (from his first marriage), was born on Erev Pesach 5568 (1808), and his bris took place on the Seventh Day of Pesach. Anash said about him that he inherited from his father the trait of alacrity. Rabbi Yitzchak knew the greatness of his father, Moharnat, and would consult with him.

His Marriage and Children

In the summer of 5583 (1823)—when he was fifteen years old—he married the daughter of Rabbi Elimelech of Cherkasy (Tcherkas). Rabbi Yitzchak lived at his father-in-law’s table in Cherkasy, far from his great father Moharnat, yet he remained in contact with him through letters. This match did not go well, and through the efforts of his great father, he divorced his wife in the summer of 5585 (1825).

At the beginning of 5586 (1826), he married Mrs. Chana and moved to live in Tulchin. Mrs. Chana came from a family of Misnagdim, and because of this she initially made things difficult for her husband; but over the years she supported him, recognizing his greatness. From this marriage he had four children: two sons—Rabbi Dovid Tzvi and Rabbi Michal—and two daughters.

Providing for His Household

Rabbi Yitzchak was extremely poor and had to go out to work in order to support his household. Rabbi Yitzchak received three job offers from the local nobleman (the paritz) of Tulchin: (a) managing the local post office, a position that also included the local branch of the government bank; (b) managing the flour mill; (c) managing and supervising the cutting of trees in the forests belonging to the paritz. On the advice of his great father, he accepted the position of managing the post office. His great father told him that in this job he would be able to serve Hashem, unlike the other two jobs. Even though he had to work, Rabbi Yitzchak remained attached to Hashem and to the ultimate purpose. The people of Tulchin relate that when he would walk to his work, it was not noticeable at all that he was now heading out to a job.

The Fierce Controversy in the Years 5595–5598 (1835–1838)

During the fierce controversy of the years 5595–5598 (1835–1838), Rabbi Yitzchak strengthened the hands of his father Moharnat, and was counted among the five faithful students who did not abandon our Rebbe Moharnat during those difficult years.

In this harsh dispute, the Misnagdim worked to have Rabbi Yitzchak dismissed from his job at the post office. Rabbi Yossel Hozner, one of the prominent men of Tulchin, was the manager of the post office branch. He had once merited to see Rebbe Nachman of Breslov, and even hosted him for Shabbos, and he did not dismiss Rabbi Yitzchak from his work.

On Shabbos Kodesh

At one of the Shabbos meals, he sat while leaning on the table. His father Moharnat said to him: “On Shabbos, we sit upright!”

On one Shabbos, Rabbi Yitzchak felt that he had something in his pocket and, by mistake, carried it. Because of this, he sewed shut all the pockets of his Shabbos clothing, so that he would not, Heaven forbid, stumble again in unintentional carrying.

His Aliyah to Eretz Yisrael and His Passing

In the summer of 5628 (1868), when Rabbi Yitzchak turned sixty, he made Aliyah to Eretz Yisrael—following the instruction of his father Moharnat—and settled in Tzfas. The people of Tulchin assisted him in making Aliyah, among them Rabbi Yaakov Teitelbaum of Tulchin, who gave him a generous donation and also supported him throughout the years he lived in Tzfas. Rabbi Yitzchak did not live long in Eretz Yisrael, and he passed away about two years after his arrival, in the holy city of Tzfas, on Purim of the unwalled cities, 14 Adar II, 5630 (1870). His burial place was prepared near the grave of Maran the Beis Yosef.