Līvāni / Livenhof
Born in 5605 (1845) in the town of Ushpol near Utzian in the district of Kovna, where his father served as rabbi (and later rabbi of Schimberg and author of the responsa Ayala Shlucha).
He was ordained for halakhic rulings by the Netziv of Volozhin, R. Eliyahu Shick, rabbi of Lida, R. Arye Leib Zivov of Dvinsk, and the Gaon of Rogatchov.
A Hasid of the Lubavitcher Rebbe the Tzemach Tzedek and a follower of the well-known Hasid R. Hillel of Paritch.
He was the father-in-law by marriage of the aforementioned R. Tzvi Hirsh Ma Yafit.
He served from 5633 (1873) as rabbi in Anishishok near Rakshik, district of Kovna.
He served as rabbi here from 5657 (1897).
During the First World War he was exiled to Liazhny, where his brother served in the rabbinate, and after the war returned to Livenhof.
He passed away here on 30 Marcheshvan 5682 (1 December 1921), and his resting place is here.
Torah novellae from him were printed in the book Amudei Shesh at the end of his father's book She'elot uTeshuvot Ayala Shlucha.
Several responsa to him were printed in his brother's books: She'elot uTeshuvot Dvar Eliyahu, sections 68–79, and a responsum from him there in the addenda, sections 2–4, and in his book Imrei Shefer, section 65.
An approbation from him was printed in Binyan Yehoshua (Warsaw 5658).
The Lubavitcher Rebbe (Mohariatz) sent him at the beginning of Marcheshvan 56821) (a short time before his passing) a long letter on the matter of participation with “those who appear to be friends and seek the welfare of our holy land.” Also, a few days before his passing, he sent him copies of the Tanya to distribute in his city.2) After his passing, he sent a letter of condolence3) to “the congregation of Israel in Livenhof” on the passing of their rabbi.
He is also mentioned in a letter of the Lubavitcher Rebbe (Maharshab) to the Gaon R. Chaim Ozer Grodzinski4) — “the elderly rabbi, R. Isser Klitchkin.”
Ohalei Shem, p. 108. Chibat HaKodesh (by his brother R. Eliyahu Klatzkin), section 38 (where it states he was born in 5604). Di Geshikhte, p. 190.
Here lies \
the great rabbi, the Hasid, \
R. Yisrael Isser Yaakov, \
son of the great rabbi, the Hasid, \
R. Naftali Hirtz \
Klatzkin, \
who sat \
on the rabbinical throne \
of our congregation for 26 years. \
He departed to all life. \
First day of Rosh Chodesh Kislev, \
year 5682.
Latvia and Rabbis