R. Shimon son of R. Zerach Zerachi

Jēkabpils / Jakobstadt

Born in 5548 (1788) in the town of Šėta near Vilna.

He studied in Kėdainiai under R. Arye Leib Katzenellenbogen (later Av Beit Din of Brisk). He was ordained for halakhic rulings at age 13.

He served as rabbi here from 5595 until 5600 (1835–1840). In the years 5600–5613 (1840–1853) he served as rabbi in Tavrig, and in 5613 he returned to serve here in the rabbinate until 56171) (1853–1857), when he ascended to the Land of Israel and resided in Jerusalem.

He was among the administrators and managers of the Talmud Torah Etz Chaim at the Churvat Rabbi Yehudah HeChassid.

He passed away in Jerusalem on 9 Elul 5620 (26 August 1860) and his resting place is on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem.

Author of the responsa Nachalat Shimon (Vilna 5657).

In a dispute that arose between him and R. Yosef Ashkenazi, rosh yeshiva here in Jakobstadt, they sent their questions to the Lubavitcher Rebbe the Tzemach Tzedek, who responded to them in Nisan 5596.2)

An approbation from him was printed in Matzav HaYashar of his son-in-law, vol. 1 (Vilna 5641).

Arshet, vol. 2, p. 265, and there his biography written by his son, and likewise in the newspaper HaKarmel, 24 Marcheshvan 5621. Toldot Chakhmei Yerushalayim, vol. 3, p. 236. Article about him in Rabboteinu SheBaGolah, vol. 2, pp. 212 ff.
Here lies \
the rabbi, the Gaon \
and Tzaddik, our master \
Shimon, son of R. Zerach, \
of blessed memory, who was rabbi \
and teacher in the city of \
Tavrig \
and Jakobstadt \
and was called to the heavens \
on the 9th of Elul, \
year 5620. \
May his soul be bound in the bond of life.

Latvia and Rabbis

1)
He is signed in the registration books here until the month of Iyyar 5617. R. Avitzinsky writes: rabbi here from approximately 5592. In the years 5601–5605 he was rabbi in Tavrig, then returned to serve here as rabbi. His daughter writes at the end of his book Nachalat Shimon that he was rabbi in Tavrig in the years 5605–5607. But what is written above is from the records of his son a short time after his passing, and is apparently more precise.
2)
His responsa, Orach Chaim, sections 43, 75; Yoreh De'ah, section 217; Choshen Mishpat, section 85. The question was printed in his own responsa Nachalat Shimon, section 31. See also the collection Yagdil Torah, New York, booklet 7, p. 33 (but what is written in Yagdil Torah there in the table of contents at the beginning of the book about R. Yosef Ashkenazi as “the rabbi of Jakobstadt” is not accurate, since he served there not as rabbi but as rosh yeshiva).