Reb Levi Yitzchak of Sirotchin (Son-in-law of the Tzemach Tzedek)
Reb Levi Yitzchak Gutterman of Sirotchin was a descendant of the Radzimin Rebbes who led a group of Chabad chassidim for 25 years as the successor to his father-in-law, the Rebbe of Chabad-Lyadi.
Life HistoryEdit
Born in Warsaw to Rabbi Yisroel of Ostrovtza, son of the holy Rabbi Yaakov Aryeh of Radzimin. Reb Levi Yitzchak devoted many hours to studying chassidus and became a great maskil.
His reputation preceded him and he received an offer for a rabbinical position. However, his first wife passed away, and he then married the daughter of Rebbe Chaim Shneur Zalman Schneerson. His father-in-law stipulated that he remain in Lyadi rather than return to Poland, so he settled there.
In 1880, after his father-in-law's passing, most chassidim followed his son Rabbi Yitzchak DovBer Schneerson, author of 'Siddur MaHaRID'. Reb Levi Yitzchak led a smaller group in Lyadi. In 1882, he settled in Sirotchin where he served as Rebbe, with many Chabad chassidim traveling to him, viewing him as the direct successor to his father-in-law.
In 1905, he traveled to Warsaw for a bris of one of his descendants and unexpectedly passed away on 23 Teves 1905.
He is buried in Warsaw in the ohel of his grandfather, the Radzimin Rebbe.
FamilyEdit
His son Rabbi Yehuda Yerachmiel succeeded him but passed away young, leaving small orphans. His chassidim then dispersed between the Rebbe Rashab and the Radzimin Rebbes.
His eldest son Rabbi Chaim Eliezer survived the Holocaust and moved to Eretz Yisroel but declined to succeed his fathers. His son Rabbi Yehuda serves as spiritual director at Ponovezh Yeshiva for Youth.
His son Rabbi Tuvia Asher Gutterman maintained possession of his father's manuscript collection.
His SeferEdit
While living in Lyadi, he published his grandfather Rabbi Yaakov Aryeh of Radzimin's manuscripts under the title 'Divrei AVIV' - on Midrash Rabba on Sefer Bereishis.
The sefer's name 'AVIV' forms the acronym of his grandfather's name: "Yaakov Aryeh Ben Bina (Buna)".