Itche Der Masmid
Yitzchok Horowitz, more commonly known as Reb Itche der Masmid, was a famous Orthodox Jewish Rabbi in pre-war Europe. Specifically, he served as a Mashpia, Hasidic mentor. He was born to Shlomo Menachem Mendel and Elka Horowitz in the city of Bereznehuvate, in the Kherson Governorate. Jewish agricultural settlement in the Kherson area had been initiated and encouraged by the second Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Dovber Schneuri.
Refinement of character
Reb Itche earned the appellation "Masmid" (which refers to a highly assiduous Talmid Chacham, Torah scholar) in his early youth, when he would intensively study until very late at night. He continued this assiduity throughout his life. He struggled to refine himself in a superhuman way that aroused wonder in all who saw him.
It was said that he attained the level described in the Tanya of Beinoni, one whose every thought, speech, and action is consistent with the Code of Jewish Law. He despised all the material narcissistic pleasures of the world, and when visiting Manhattan (and seeing all the skyscrapers), said "Di ofanim hoben do gut gekakt" ("The angels really relieved themselves here"--hinting at the idea discussed in Chasidic philosophy that materiality is literally an excrement of the spiritual worlds).
It was his custom to pray for many hours, according to the Chabad tradition of prayer. However, he surpassed his colleagues by praying until five in the afternoon!
Public role
He served as an emissary (shliach) of the fifth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Sholom Dov Ber Schneersohn (the Rebbe Rashab), and of the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Schneersohn (the Rebbe Rayatz). He traveled throughout Europe and encourage the Hasidim and other Jews he met to increase in their devotion to Judaism and the Hasidic LifeStyle.
Shortly after the passing of the Rebbe Rashab, when the drawers of his writing table were opened, those present found the Rebbe Rashab's will. It clearly indicated that Rabbi Yosef Yitchak should be the one to lead the chassidim. Nevertheless, not all of the chassidim accepted Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak as their new leader. Some of the elder chassidim tried to persuade Reb Itche Der Masmid to become their Rebbe. Also, Rebbetzin Shterna Sarah gave Reb Itche Der Masmid the Rebbe Rashab's shtreimel, which in many Chassidic circles is an indication of succesion, though it is not clear that such was her intention. However, he adamantly refused.
Communist persecution
In 1917, the Bolshevik Revolution broke out in Russia, and within a short time, virtually any kind of formal Jewish education was outlawed by The New Communist regime. Anyone committing this "crime" was in danger of imprisonment and execution, and many young rabbis suffered this fate. Reb Itche continued his work to strengthen Jewish observance despite this danger, and survived this period.
Wider Influence
His influence reached outside the ranks of the Chabad hasidic circle as well, most notably to Rabbi Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler of the Mussar movement, leading Dessler to include many IDeaS from Hasidic philosophy in his writings.
Demise
He was slain by the Nazis on 10 Kislev, 5702 (30 November, 1941). They brought him and numerous other Jews into a synagogue, poured gasoline On It, and set it ablaze, burning everyone alive.