R. Yaakov son of R. Mordechai Denison
Liepāja / Libau / Libava
Born in 5600 (1840) in Žagarė Hadash. He studied in Slutsk under the Gaon R. Yosef Dov Soloveitchik and was ordained for halakhic rulings by him. He was also ordained by the Geonim R. Betzalel HaKohen of Vilna and R. Eliyahu Shick, Av Beit Din of Žagarė and Lida.
He served from 56331) as rabbi in Uzvend, district of Kovna, and from 5647 as rabbi here.
He passed away here on 7 Iyyar 5679 (7 May 1919).2)
Author of the responsa and novellae She'erit Yaakov (vol. 1, Vilna 5656; vol. 2, Saspola 5671).
Torah novellae from him were printed in the collections of the rabbinical monthly Ohel Yitzchak (Satmar), in the collections of the monthly HaMeasef, and in Yagdil Torah (Slutsk).
A letter of annotations from him (for the book Minchot Moshe) was printed in the book Klil Tiferet, section 16 (in the responsa HaShiv Moshe, Jerusalem Institute, 5766).
In Ma'aneh Eliyahu, section 42, a responsum from the Gaon Aderet to him was printed.
In Hadarat Tzvi a eulogy he delivered for R. Tzvi Hirsh Nurok, rabbi of Mitau, was printed.
An approbation from him was printed in Nefesh HaGer (Piotrków 5666).
Ohalei Shem, p. 105. Toldot Yeshivat HaYehudim BeCourland, p. 106. Death registration records of the Liepāja community, 1909–1941.
Latvia and Rabbis