Riga
Born in Courland in 5520 and passed away in 5591 (1760–1831).
He is mentioned in a document from 5571 (1811) as rabbi. In addition, he also served as second chazan and shamash. He also fulfilled the role of government censor for Hebrew holy books, and is signed as censor in the book Hadrat Zekenim (Dobrovna 5562), but he does not appear to have been an important and respected rabbi.
He is mentioned in the prenumeranten at the beginning of the book Derekh Selula (Vilna 5586): “the rabbi, the great luminary, our master Moshe, son of our master Yechezkel.”
Newspaper HaYnt, 14 Iyyar 5696. HeAvar, quarterly, vol. 1, p. 74. In both these sources his name is mentioned as Moshe Yechezkel. (In Eizehu Mekoman it is mentioned that there was here in Riga and in Kyiv a rabbi by the name of Moshe Yechezkel Mandelstam.)
Latvia and Rabbis