Rav Israel Isaac Besançon was born in 1944 in Nice. Since his youth, he has been interested in art, and while continuing to paint and evolve in this field, as an autodidact, he searches for his Jewish roots, and approaches spirituality. Thus, he began to study the Torah at the Yeshiva of Aix les Bains and attached himself to the teachings of Rabi Nahman of Breslev, deepening his message.

From then on, he will lead his artistic work and his new life as Hassid Breslev, one inspiring the other.

He never ceases to promote the words of the Tzadik who is the shepherd of Israel, the just, foundation of the world, leading everyone who approaches him, but also the whole world, towards his deliverance and his reparation. Rabi Nahman emphasizes the importance of being constantly in joy, advocating song, dance, and music, which is reflected in the works of Rav Besançon.

All his work is based on the Hasidic universe and the teachings of Rabi Nahman, expressing its atmosphere beyond time and space, on the border between this world and the one above, as well as the world that will appear in the future when the Maschiah comes.

During his years of study at the Yeshiva of Aix-les-Bains, he met his future wife and married. His wife, Barbara Rubin, is of American origin, former muse of the New York underground movement, filmmaker and artist, having initiated the Pop Art movement, and rubbing shoulders with artists who have become famous such as Andy Warol, Lou Reed, Bob Dylan. Before having abandoned everything to do techouva, and adopt the life of an Orthodox Jewish woman, and especially Breslev through her marriage to Rav Besançon. They will have 5 children together.

Then, Rav Besançon went to Belgium where he often exhibited his work at the “Denise” gallery in Antwerp. Following which, he returned to France where he lived in Paris for 7 years.
During this period, he illustrated and published “the Book of Ruth”. He opens a studio-gallery where he exhibits his work. Californian patron Jack E. Gindi visits his gallery and discovers his “five Megiloths”, which propels Rav Besançon into his artistic career.

However, his priority remains his attachment to the teachings of Rabi Nahman of Breslev to which he devotes most of his life. He begins to write books based on the teachings of Rabi Nahman and to give courses himself. To date, he has published numerous books in both French and Hebrew, in a rich and deep literary style while wanting to be simple and clear, so as to be accessible to as many people as possible. In 1995, he went with his family to Israel where he still lives today in old Tel Aviv, in the district of Shapira where he founded a Breslev community called “chirhadasch” (new song), including a Yeshiva, a synagogue and schools. In 1998, he illustrated a Haggadah, which was published in Jerusalem by PM Judaica.

His wife Barbara dies in childbirth giving birth to her fifth child. Rav Besançon conceives an immense pain but he strengthens his faith in G… by writing the book “Courage” based on the famous teaching of Rabi Nahman of Breslev according to which “despair does not exist at all. This book will be published in thousands of copies and will help bring many people closer to Hasiduth Breslov. He also wrote the following books: On the way, Hitbodédouth, Vive la vie, Yossef, the tree of life, etc… Later, he will re-marry.