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R. David Tzvi Hirsh son of R. Baruch Zutnik Fish

Krustpils / Kreutzburg

He studied at the Volozhin yeshiva. Son-in-law of R. Chaim Berlin, rabbi of Moscow and Jerusalem.

He served as rabbi in Trakai, Lithuania.

By 5649 he was already serving here as rabbi until 5655 (1895), when he moved to serve as rabbi in Manchester, England.1)

At the end of his days he ascended to Jerusalem, and there he passed away on 7 Elul 5666 (28 August 1906), and his resting place is on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem.

In the responsa Otzar HaChaim, Choshen Mishpat, Torah novellae from him were printed under the title Magen David.

An approbation from him was printed in the responsa Mahary“l Diskin.

In HaMelitz from 9 Sivan 5651, his letter from Rosh Chodesh Sivan 5651 “on the matter of Corfu etrogs” was published, where he signs “David Tzvi Fish.”

Text of his tombstone:

“For these our eyes are darkened” — chronogram \
“Over this beauty that perishes in the dust” \
He is the rabbi, the Gaon, beautiful in his teaching and beautiful in his practice. \
Our master David Tzvi, son of R. Baruch, of blessed memory, \
who was rabbi in Manchester \
and at the end of his days ascended to Jerusalem \
and his spirit ascended to heaven. \
Passed away 7 Elul 5666. \
May his soul be bound in the bond of life.

Latvia and Rabbis

1)
In his letters to R. Yitzchak Elchanan Spector of Kovna from 5649 (also printed in Magen David in the responsa Otzar HaChaim, as below) he writes “of the holy congregation of Kreutzburg.” In the responsa Nishmat Chaim of his father-in-law R. Chaim Berlin, several letters from him from 5654, while he was still here, were printed. He is also mentioned as a resident here in HaMelitz from 29 Elul 5654. In the collection Moriah, issue 99, p. 29, a responsum to him from R. Shlomo HaKohen of Vilna from 5655 was printed, calling him there “Av Beit Din of Manchester.” In the collection Moriah, issue 100, it is written that he lived in Jerusalem from 5655, but this is certainly an error, since in HaMelitz from 26 Sivan 5658 a congratulatory announcement to him on his daughter's wedding was printed, stating there that he was rabbi in Manchester.