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R. Dov Ber Ze'ev Wolf son of R. Chaim Liebshitz

Sabile / Shavlan

Born on 7 Adar 5587 (6 March 1827), to his father, rabbi of Zetil and Sardnik.

A student of his father, of R. Ze'ev Wolf Lipkin (father of R. Yisrael Salanter), and of his father-in-law R. Moshe Yitzchak HaLevi Revel, among the rabbis of Valdemarfils, and others.

He served as rabbi here from the month of Tishrei 56101) until the end of 5624 (October 1849 – September 1864),2) when he moved to serve as rabbi in Windau. He served there until some time after his father's passing (in 5626), when he moved to Sardnik to serve in the rabbinate in his father's place, and he passed away there on 13 Kislev 5661 (5 December 1900).

Author of the books: Shir HaChaim, commentary on Perek Shira (Vilna 5630, 5634); Be'er Chaim, commentary on the order of prayer (Vilna 5639); Ruach Chaim, commentary on Megillat Kohelet (Warsaw 5644); Ma'ayan Chaim, vol. 1 — novellae and responsa (Vilna 5630, 5634); vol. 2 — homilies (Vilna 5638).

Di Geshikhte, p. 113. Chidushei Yechiel of his son (Vilna 5692, with his biography). Dor Rabbanov veSoferav, vol. 4, p. 21. See about him in Rabboteinu SheBaGolah, vol. 2, pp. 262 ff.

Latvia and Rabbis

1)
In the Chevra Kadisha register here it is written that he was accepted as a member of the Chevra Kadisha on 24 Tishrei 5610.
2)
So in Di Geshikhte, and likewise in his signature in the registration books of the Windau community. But in the introduction to his book Ma'ayan Chaim, vol. 1 (Vilna 5630, omitted from the 5634 edition), he thanks “the city of Shavlan where my soul lived for about eleven years.”