Issachar ben Yaacov Avinu

 Born: Aram Naharayim, 1564 BCE.

Died: Egypt, 1442 BCE.                                                                     

Issachar was the Son of Jacob the Patriarch and Leah the Matriarch. He is one of the 12 Tribes.

According to the Ari, Yaacov Avinu's soul was from Hevel son of Adam and the soul of his brother Esav  was from Cayin son of Adam. At the time of birth Yaacov was holding on the the heel of Esav, what he actually did was taking out the good part of Cayin in Esav which was mixed with the evil part. This positive part of Cayin, Yaacov inherited to Issachar, when Issachar was born. (Sha'ar HaGilgulim, hakdama 38) 

   Issachar's soul was later incarnated in Rabbi Akiva, who was a part of the Ten Martyrs, to atone for the sale of Yosef, which Issachar took a part in. Before being incarnated in Rabbi Akiva, Issachar was incarnated in the famous Tana, Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakai (Kitvei Ari, Sha'ar HaPsukim, parashat Va'yetze)  

   Issachar sat and engaged in Torah study, while Zevulun sailed the seas [for commerce] and supported Issachar (Bereishit Rabbah 72:5). Zevulun financed Issachar's Torah study and both benefited thereby.

The descendants of Issachar were sages who were experts in intercalation (Targum Yonatan, Bereishit 46:13).

   Every Torah scholar who decides halachic matters comes either from the tribe of Levi or from the tribe of Issachar (Yoma 26a).

Issachar was born of the 10th of Av, and died on the same day at the age of 122 (Yalkut Shimoni, Shemot 162).

   The bones of Issachar were buried in Sidon (a part of Lebanon nowadays) in the inheritance that fell to his descendants (Sefer HaYashar, end of Yehoshua)

May the merit of the tzaddik  Issachar ben Yaacov Avinu  protect us all, Amen.