Varakļāni
Born in 5635 (1875) in Preil, where his father served in the rabbinate.
Son-in-law of R. Binyamin Eizenshtat, rabbi of Utzian and author of the book Masa Binyamin.
He served as rabbi here from 5678 (1918).1) was the one who served as rabbi of Barkava from 28 Sivan 5699 (27 July 1938). I re-checked in the archive here and indeed it was recorded thus. In Megilat Yochasin — Yachas Avot, letter 86 (compiled approximately at the end of 5699) it is written that he serves as a lawyer in Riga.))
He perished in the Holocaust with the members of his community on 11 Menachem Av 5701 (4 August 1941).
Author of the book Torah vaDa'at on the book of Genesis (Riga 5696). Torah novellae from him were printed in the collection Sha'arei Tzion. A letter from him was printed in Zikaron BaSefer (p. 134).
He is mentioned in Igrot Kodesh of the Lubavitcher Rebbe (Mohariatz)2) regarding the repayment of a debt (or support): “to R. L. Grodski in the city of Varkljani, one hundred and twenty lats.”
Megilat Yochasin — Yachas Avot, letter 86. Latvia: Batei Knesset VeRabbanim, p. 229 (where it states he served as rabbi of Preil from 5671 (1911) until he moved to serve in the rabbinate here). Pinkas HaKehillot, pp. 114 ff.
His letter to the man of kindness, R. Mordechai Dubin, regarding the transfer of the market day in the town of Madona from the holy Sabbath3):
With God's help, Sunday, Rosh Chodesh Tevet, 5691.
His honor, the distinguished and exalted, the dear and elevated, the precious communal activist renowned for praise, the Sejm representative, our teacher R. Mordechai Dubin, may he live —
Peace and blessing.
After inquiring after his good health, as befits his great honor —
At the request of the congregation, the community of the city of Madona in Livland, and the honored ritual slaughterer of the community of Madona, our teacher R. Moshe Chaim Lipshitz, I hereby turn to his honor with a request: since the market day in Madona is fixed on the holy Sabbath, the desecration of the Sabbath is therefore great and terrible — may God have mercy — and it pains the heart greatly and is bitter to see the desecration of the holy in public. If it is at all possible to act through the government to have the market day changed from the holy Sabbath to Thursday, one must do everything possible, literally with self-sacrifice, as our Sages said, to act with self-sacrifice for the upholding of Sabbath observance. Therefore his honor, may he live, will certainly do everything possible in this matter, and whatever is necessary for the community of Madona to do from their side — they too will see to it, as they are informed what is needed from their side. I hope and await God's salvation and help in this matter, and happy is he who has the power to remove a terrible obstacle and repair this great thing.
They await his response, to know what he will accomplish in this, and what is necessary for the people of Madona to do, with God's help.
His friend, greeting him with honor and blessing, awaiting God's salvation —
Eliezer Yaakov HaKohen Grodski, of the holy congregation of Varkljani.
A reply letter may be sent to me at my address in Varkljani, or to the ritual slaughterer in Madona at his address.
Latvia and Rabbis