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R. Avraham Shmuel son of R. Naftali Dobitsky

Valdemārpils / Sassmacken

Born in Vilna in 5620 (1860).

Son-in-law of the aforementioned R. Moshe Lernblat.

He served here as rabbi from the month of Sivan 5642 (June 1882)1) until Kislev 5664 (end of 1903).2)

Afterward he served as rabbi in Priekule (Frauenburg), and from 5665 as rabbi of Goldingen.

In 5682 (1922) he emigrated to the United States. For a short time he was rabbi in New Haven, then emigrated to Montreal, Canada, and was accepted as rabbi in the city council and as rabbi of the synagogue “Chevra Kadisha Adat Yeshurun,” where he served in the rabbinate until his passing there on 10 Tammuz 5704 (1 July 1944). He was brought to rest in the Back River Cemetery Memorial Gardens.

In the book Hadarat Tzvi, a eulogy he delivered for R. Tzvi Hirsh Nurok, rabbi of Mitau, was printed.

A responsum to him was printed in the responsa Shem Olam (by R. M.Sh. Stul, rabbi of Bauska), Yoreh De'ah, section 5. Responsa to him also appear in Mimeinei Yeshuah (Montreal 5719). An approbation from him was printed in the book Edut BeYisrael (Montreal 5704).

LeKorot ir Rasein VeRabbaneha, p. 27 (where it states his origin is from the city of Merech in Lithuania). Di Geshikhte, p. 93 (where it states he was accepted as rabbi in place of his father-in-law). Ohalei Shem, p. 31 (where it states he was born in 5622). Monthly HaPardes, Menachem Av 5704, p. 40. Sefer HaYovel of the Rabbinical Association in the United States and Canada, p. 155.

Latvia and Rabbis

1)
From then on he signs as rabbi in the registration books here.
2)
Until then he signs in the registration books as rabbi here. But in Ohalei Shem it is written that from 5662 he served as rabbi in Priekule (Frauenburg). He also appears in the marriage registration book of the Tukums community from 5656 (1896) as assistant rabbi there.