Reb Shmuel Isaac
Reb Shmuel Isaac became a follower of Rebbe Nachman when Rebbe Nachman lived in Medvedevka. Reb Shmuel Isaac lived in abject poverty...
Reb Shmuel Isaac
Reb Shmuel Isaac became a follower of Rebbe Nachman when Rebbe Nachman lived in Medvedevka. Reb Shmuel Isaac lived in abject poverty.
Reb Shmuel Isaac was physically strong. Rebbe Nachman told him to speak in turn to each of his limbs about the purpose of earthly existence, and to continue doing so until they were totally subdued.
Reb Shmuel Isaac devoted himself to prayer. He would begin his morning prayers at dawn, and continue his devotions until the afternoon.
Whenever Reb Shmuel traveled to visit Rebbe Nachman, he would be so excited that once his wagon reached town, he would jump off and race to the Rebbe's house. Once he arrived so exhausted that he stumbled into the room and collapsed at the Rebbe's feet. Rebbe Nachman had been discussing who would succeed the Russian Czar, who had just been murdered. While Reb Shmuel Isaac was still lying on the floor, Rebbe Nachman said, "leave him be. In Heaven they are asking his opinion on who should be the next Czar."
Twenty-five years later, Alexander, who had replaced his father as Czar, passed away and his anti-religious brother replaced him. Nikolai immediately went to work enforcing policies harmful to the Jewish community. During Rosh Hashana 1826, Reb Shmuel Isaac was overhead saying again and again, "Either him or me! Either him or me!" He passed away later that year.
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