Raphael of Bershad

Rabbi Raphael of Bershad (; Refael of Bershad, Raphael Bershadsky; 1751 — January 14 1827, Tarashcha ) — was a Hasidic tzadik renowned for his extreme modesty and absolute honesty. He holds a place of great honor in the Hasidic tradition.

Rabbi Raphael was the closest disciple of Rabbi Pinchas of Koretz and founded the "Bershad" stream of Hasidism, which flourished until the end of the 19th century. His reputation for piety was so strong that it extended to all residents of his shtetl—grooms and brides from Bershad became highly sought after in Jewish families as exemplars of devout living. on the Hebrew calendar (approximately 1751) to Rabbi Yaakov Yakili (also called Yaakov Yukel) and his mother Feigl. His father worked as a melamed—a teacher who taught reading and writing to the children of poor Jewish families. Subsequently, he became a disciple of Rabbi Pinchas Shapiro of Koretz. According to Martin Buber:

After the death of Rabbi Pinchas of Koritz, most of his followers became followers of Rabbi Raphael.

In his memoirs, Avrom Ber Gotlober recalled that in his old age, Rebbe Refael suffered from rheumatism and needed a cane to walk. However, fearing he might appear arrogant, he refused to use it.

Rabbi Raphael of Bershad died on January 14, 1827. According to a preserved legend, his unwavering honesty led to his premature death. His followers, who lived not only in Bershad but also in Obodovka, Trostyanets, Verkhivka, and other Ukrainian shtetls, proudly called themselves "Bershad Hasidim." An ohel has been erected over the grave.

Teachings The core of Rabbi Raphael's teachings centered on extreme modesty and absolute honesty. Although he left no writings behind—some believe this was itself an act of modesty—his thoughts have been preserved in several sources. Some of his teachings appear in Midrash Pinhas (Ashdod: Yashlim, 2001, pp. 135–145), while others are found in the 1872 manuscript Midrash Pinḥas.

One example of his teachings illustrates his spiritual approach: Rabbi Raphael taught that if someone notices their neighbor hates them, they should respond by loving that neighbor even more.