He was a great grandson of Dov Ber, the Maggid of Mezhirech and showed outstanding qualities from childhood. At the age of 13 he married and settled in Botosani, Romania.

Three years later his brother died and he became a hasidic leader. He moved to Ruzhin, Poland, where he achieved the reputation of a great holy man and attracted thousands of followers.

Israel lived a life of great luxury and surrounded himself with splendor, such as his carriage with silver handles drawn by four horses. In 1838 he was accused of complicity in the death of two Jews accused of being informers and was imprisoned for two years.

On his release he moved to Kishinev, then to Jassy and other places before finally settling in Sadagora, Bukovina. There he reestablished his court in all its glory. His six sons all founded hasidic dynasties.

Bibliography:

Israel ben Abraham Yaakov FRIEDMANN OF SADAGORA: Sefer Or Yisrael. Pp. [19], 362, [10]. Tel Aviv: Machon Knesset Mordechai, 1997 (in Hebrew)

Israel ben Abraham Yaakov FRIEDMANN OF SADAGORA: Sefer Irin kadishin: pi shenayim likutim yekarim al ha-Torah. Pp. 128. Brooklyn, NY: Bet ha-sefer, 5734 [i.e. 1973 or 1974] (in Hebrew)

Abraham TE’OMIM: Sefer Evel gadol: al petirat morenu ve-rabenu… Yisrael me-Rizin. Pp. 30 [i.e. 60], 17 [i.e. 34], 8. Brooklyn, NY, 5753 [i.e. 1992 or 1993] (in Hebrew)

David Assaf: R. Yisarel me-Ruz’in u-mekomo be-toldot ha-Hasidut ba-amhatsith ha-rishonah shel ha-me’ah ha-tesha’-esreh. Pp. 321, X.. Israel, 1992 (in Hebrew)

Links:

The Regal Way. The Life And Times Of Rabbi Israel Of Ruzhin by David Assaf (Contents of the book)

The Regal Way. The Life And Times Of Rabbi Israel Of Ruzhin by David Assaf (Abstract)

ShtetLinks: SADGURA (Jewish Gen*)