 He was given the name Yisroel (Israel) after the Baal Shem Tov, Rabbi Israel "ben" Eliezer.He had two older brothers, Avrohom (1787–1812) and Dov Ber (the latter died in childhood), and a younger sister, Chaya Ita.Claiming descent from the Royal line of King David, his father, the Rebbe of Prohobisht, comported himself differently from other Hasidic leaders of the time.