R. Chaim Yitzchak son of R. Chanoch Zundel HaKohen Bloch
Bauska
Born on 21 Tishrei 5625 (21 October 1864) in Plungyan, district of Kovna, where his father served as ritual slaughterer.
In his youth he studied under R. Simcha Zissel Ziv of Kelm at the Talmud Torah in Grobiņa, and in his early years he studied at the Volozhin Yeshiva under the Gaon Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik.
He founded a yeshiva in Plungyan, his home town, and served as its head from 5654–5658. From the year 5658 he served in the rabbinate of the town of Palanga (Polangen).1)
From the year 5667 (1907) he served in the rabbinate of Bauska.2)
During the years of the First World War he wandered to Russia, and in the year 5680 (1920) he returned to Bauska. In the year 5683 (or 5682) he emigrated to the United States and was accepted as rabbi of the congregation Agudat Shalom in Jersey City, and served as honorary president of the Rabbinical Association in the USA and Canada.
Author of the books Divrei Chavah on the novellae of the Ritva, and Divrei Chavah – “a portion of the halakhic lessons delivered by the author at the yeshiva of the town of Plungyan” (New York 5701). He published Torah articles in the journal Yagdil Torah (Slutsk) and in HaPardes, and more.
He passed away on 7 Adar II 5708 (18 March 1948), and his resting place is in the Riverside Cemetery, New Jersey.
Yahadut Latviya, pp. 255–256. Chakhmei Lita, p. 18, where there is also a list of his compositions and Torah teachings that were printed.
Latvia and Rabbis