Rabbi David, son of Rabbi Shlomo Zvi, was born in year 5506 and passed away on the 7th of Shvat, 5574 (1746-1814). Rabbi David was the student of Rabbi Elimelech of Lizhensk and the Chozeh of Lublin. He was also the father-in-law and good friend of “The Holy Jew” from Pashichsaw, Rabbi Yakov Yitzchak who became close to Chassidism through Rabbi David. Rabbi David was the founder of the Chassidic dynasty of Lelov.

Rabbi David would seclude himself and spend a lot of time with nature, in fields and forests, and was considered to be a very well liked, popular figure amongst the people. He emphasized “Ahavat Yisrael” and outreach to his nation, even the criminals among them. Many stories were told about him in relation to this. After he got married, he owned a small shop, and he would only sell in order to profit just enough for what he needed for the day. He feared of people only coming to buy from his shop and thus him getting in the way of the livelihood of others. He also had compassion for animals, as he would go and feed the horses when their owners were still at the marketplace.

Rabbi David was well-known for being modest and he hid his knowledge of the Torah. Though he spent most of his time learning torah, he did not adjudicate and only on rare occasion did his ingenuity become apparent.

One of his well-known students was Dr. Rabbi Chaim David Brand, who was brought back to Judaism by Rabbi David and who became a Chassidic leader and known as Rabbi Chaim David of Piatrakov son of Yissachar Dov. Another student was Rabbi Yitzchak from Varka.

His Sons:
Rabbi Moshe (the successor of his dynasty)
 Rabbi Nechemya
Rabbi Avigdor

His Books:

His Biblical Exegesis is scattered throughout several books. The stories tols of him ar gethered into one book called “Migdal David” (The Tower of David). His stories are otherwise told in “Likutai Deivrai David”, “Kodesh Hilulim”, “Pri Kodesh Hilulim” and “Tiferet Beit David".