Daugavpils / Dvinsk / Dinabug / Denenborg / Denabarg
Born in 5618 (1858) in the city of Rogachov, district of Mohilev. His father was among the city's teachers and Hasidim, and in his childhood took him to see the Tzemach Tzedek of Lubavitch, who blessed him with success in his studies.
When he reached his bar mitzvah his father brought him to Slutsk to the Gaon R. Yosef Dov Soloveitchik, where he studied a full year together with R. Yosef Dov's son who later became renowned as the Gaon R. Chaim of Brisk.
From Slutsk he traveled to Shklov to R. Yehoshua Leib Diskin.
He occasionally visited in Kapust at the Rebbe R. Shlomo Zalman, author of Magen Avot (a grandson of the Tzemach Tzedek), and it was he who advised the Hasidic community in Dvinsk to accept the Gaon R. Yosef as their rabbi.2)
In the month of Adar I 5649 (February 1889) he was accepted as rabbi of the Hasidim in Dvinsk.3)
During the First World War, in 5675, when the Germans were about to capture Dvinsk, he traveled from there to Petersburg and stayed there for about ten years. During his stay there, the Petersburg Hasidim accepted him as rabbi and treated him with extraordinary reverence. During this period his ties with the Lubavitcher Rebbe (Maharshab) and his son the Lubavitcher Rebbe (Mohariatz) (who lived in Petersburg in the years 5684–5687) were strengthened.
He returned to Dvinsk on 8 Tevet 5685 (January 1925).
He passed away in Vienna on 11 Adar 5696 (5 March 1936) and was brought to rest in Dvinsk.
Author of the books Tsafnat Pa'aneach on the Rambam, and responsa. On his tombstone it is written: “He was rabbi in our congregation for 48 years.”
His biography is collected in the book HaRogatchover (Holy Land, 5765). For his Hasidic character see the article “Pa'aneach Raza” in Migdal Oz, pp. 88 ff. See also Sefer HaSichot of the Lubavitcher Rebbe (Mohariatz), 5680–5687, p. 70, note 9.
Of blessed and holy memory.
Our master, teacher, and rabbi,
prince among all the children of Israel,
the true Gaon, unique in the generation —
for many generations none arose like him.
Prince of Torah, our master R. Yosef,
son of R. Ephraim Fishel, of blessed memory,
from Rogachov.
He was rabbi in our congregation for 48 years.
Author of the wondrous book Tsafnat Pa'aneach
on the Rambam, responsa,
and many in manuscript.
His soul departed in purity,
11 Adar I, the year of “adversities” [chronogram = 5]696.
May his soul be bound in the bond of life.
“On Sunday, 25 Kislev, a conference of the Education Fund was held in Dvinsk with the participation of the rabbis of Latgale and the education activists, and they visited the Gaon.”
Latvia and Rabbis