Varakļāni

Born in 5600 (1840) in Bobruysk. He studied there at the yeshiva under R. Yechiel Michal Epstein of Novhardok (author of the Arukh HaShulchan), and was known by the epithet “the prodigy of Bobruysk.” He was ordained for halakhic rulings by the Netziv of Volozhin, the brothers R. Zeleg Zioni of Lucin and R. Yitzchak Zioni, rabbi of Rēzekne, and others.

He was appointed rabbi here in 5633 (1873) and served for forty-five years, until his passing in 5677 (1917).

A responsum to him appears in the responsa Ridvaz, section 25, and in the responsa Zioni, vol. 1, section 28; vol. 2, sections 23, 30, 39.

Ohalei Shem, p. 54. Bobruysk — Sefer Zikaron, p. 291.

Latvia and Rabbis