Rabbi Nathan David Rabinowitz – The Rebbe of Pertzova

The Rebbe Rabbi Nathan David Rabinowitz, from the Polish city of Pertzova, was a gaon in Torah and famous in his time. He was the son of the tzaddik Rabbi Yitzchak Yaakov of Biala (from whom emerged the famous Biala dynasty, which exists to the present day), as well as the grandson of Rabbi Nathan David of Shidlovtza and the great-grandson of Rabbi Yerachmiel. He in turn was the firstborn son of the saintly Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak, the Yid HaKodesh (Holy Jew) of Pshischa, may his merit protect us all.

People could see that Rabbi Nathan David was from a noble line. From very early on in life, he spent many hours each day diligently studying Torah and Chassidut, completely separated from the vanities of this world. In fact it was said that he didn’t even know what a coin looked like.

Rabbi Nathan David devoted himself not only to the revealed Torah. He also possessed an extensive and clear understanding of the hidden Torah, and many Kabbalists of his time came to study with him late at night. He wrote many books on Kabbalah, but unfortunately the world did not merit to see them. These books were lost forever, a fact that he bitterly regretted for his entire life. Rabbi Nathan David often described himself as being the root of the soul of the saintly Rabbi David of Lelov. As it turned out, Rabbi Nathan David passed away on Rabbi David’s yahrtzeit, Shevat 7, dying in the prime of his life. May his merit protect us all.