Rēzekne / Rezhitsa
Born in 5637 (1877) in Mogilev. He studied at the Mir yeshiva.
He served as Maggid Mesharim in Lyubavich in Ukraine, and from there was accepted here as rabbi in 5664 and served in this capacity for 20 years until the summer of 5684 (1904–1924), when he emigrated to the United States.
He served as rabbi in Brooklyn for decades, and served as chairman of the Rabbinical Council of New York until his passing on 19 Kislev 5716 (4 December 1955), and his resting place is in the Mount Carmel Cemetery in Queens, NY.
Author of the books Mishkenot Yisrael (Vilna 5659), HaShabbat LeKadsho (NY 5702). At the end of this book several letters from the Gaon R. Meir Simcha HaKohen of Dvinsk to him were printed.
In the responsa Tsafnat Pa'aneach HaChadashot, vol. 1, letters, letter 15, a response from the Gaon of Rogatchov to him was printed, on his question from 5678 whether to accept the rabbinate in the city of Pskov.1)
In Igrot Kodesh of the Lubavitcher Rebbe (Mohariatz) (vol. 5, p. 458), a letter to him was printed, with wishes of congratulations on the occasion of his accepting the rabbinical position at the synagogue Tiferet Yisrael.2)
With God's help, 8 Elul 5701, \
Brooklyn.
His honor my dear friend, the rabbi, the Gaon, renowned for name, praise, and glory, \
discerning in good matters, of fine qualities, \
our teacher R. Yisrael, may he live —
Peace and blessing!
Hereby I bless my dear friend the rabbi, the Gaon, may he live, and his honored congregation, may the Lord preserve them, with wishes of mazal tov on his accepting the rabbinical post. May God strengthen the health of my dear friend and lengthen his days and years in the tent of Torah, with great goodness in material and spiritual matters, and through my dear friend may all the worshippers of the synagogue “Tiferet Yisrael,” they and their households and their descendants, be blessed in the material and the spiritual.
He spoke many times at events for the benefit of the Tomchei Temimim yeshiva. When the Lubavitcher Rebbe (Mohariatz) founded the society “Adino” to organize Torah gatherings from time to time, he chose him as one of the members of the Torah Council of the organization.
In Zikaron LiVnei Yisrael (p. 170, note 303) it writes about him: “When young he was considered a prodigy; he was a great Torah scholar and God-fearing man. When the Lubavitcher Rebbe (Mohariatz) came [to the United States in 5690], er hot zikh gevalzhert a gantsn tog mit alemen — he spent the entire day rolling around with everyone — and would come at frequent intervals. He recounted that he had a letter from the Lubavitcher Rebbe (Maharshab). Also when the Lubavitcher Rebbe (Mohariatz) came the second time, at the beginning of the Second World War, he would come to the gatherings even on the holidays, and would walk on foot from Williamsburg.”
HeAvar, issue 12, p. 170. Ohalei Shem, p. 200. HaPardes, Tevet 5716 (booklet 4), p. 27. His book HaShabbat LeKadsho. Igrot Kodesh of the Lubavitcher Rebbe (Mohariatz), vol. 8, p. 508. Toldot Chabad BeArtzot HaBrit, index of names, where he is noted.
Letter from Igrot Kodesh of the Lubavitcher Rebbe (Mohariatz) (vol. 9, p. 436):
With God's help, 17 Sivan 5708, \
Brooklyn.
His honor my dear friend, the rabbi, the Gaon renowned for name and praise and glory \
among the Geonim of Jacob, our master R. Yisrael, may he live, \
Dushavitz —
Peace and blessing!
I read the presentation and proclamation of awakening of my dear friend, which without doubt will awaken many of those faithful and loyal of Israel — may the Lord preserve them — who hurt and worry about the state of kashrut and will come to financial assistance needed for the arrangement of kashrut; and abundant blessings in spirit and material shall rest upon the head of my dear friend and upon the heads of the helpers and participants in their material and spiritual assistance — may they and their households be blessed.
His friend who honors and blesses him.
Here lies our dear father, the Gaon, minister of Torah, \
Rabbi Yisrael, son of R. Shimon Yehuda Leib \
Dushavitz, of blessed and holy memory. \
He established his fame in his lifetime among the great Torah scholars. \
He made a name for himself in his breadth of Torah knowledge and in moving mountains and grinding them with reasoning. \
He championed Torah and its scholars and fought its battles with strength and might. \
He dedicated his mouth to Musar, to spread the light of Torah. \
He studied, taught, and fulfilled with devoted soul. \
He served in great communities in Russia and our country for more than fifty years \
and stood at the head of the Rabbinical Council of greater New York \
for decades. He went to his rest on 19 Kislev \
5716.
Latvia and Rabbis