Loish (Loisch) Yakov (Jakov) Davidovich (26 September 1918, Riga) – watchmaker.

In 1932 Yakov Loish completed a six-year school in Dubulti. In 1936–38 he was an apprentice in the watchmaking workshop of A. Rann in Riga. In 1938–40 he worked in the workshop of G. Buchbinder in Riga. In 1940 he performed military service in the Latvian Army (in Rēzekne). In 1940–41 he worked as a watchmaker at the Riga branch of the firm “Kursa”. In 1941–45 he served in the Latvian Division of the Soviet Army. In 1946 he returned to Riga and worked as a watchmaker: at the “Mortorgtrans” industrial combine (1946–47), at the Navy industrial combine, in the artels “Darbs” and “Remonts”, and at the “Darbs” factory.

In his marriage to Genovefa Loish (nee Kaupush) (1925, Kārsava District) their daughter Hasia Loish (1949, Riga) was born. His parents and two brothers — David Loish (1870–1941), Hasia Loish (1875–1941), Samuil Loish (1900–1941), Isaak Loish (1895–1941) — were killed in Riga in 1941. His brother Evsei Loish (1917–1942) was killed at the front. His brother Khaim Loish (1893) left Latvia in 1934 and in the 1960s lived and worked in Israel.

In 1960 Yakov Loish submitted his first application to emigrate to Israel to join his brother, and in 1966 he received permission to leave Latvia.

Family:

Genovefa Loish (nee Kaupush) (1925, Kārsava District) – wife
Hasia Loish (1949, Riga) – daughter
David Loish (1870, Grīva, Dvinsk District – 1941, Riga) – father
Hasia Loish (1875, Jaunjelgava – 1941, Riga) – mother
Samuil Loish (1900, Jaunjelgava – 1941, Riga) – brother
Isaak Loish (1895, Jaunjelgava – 1941, Riga) – brother
Evsei Loish (1917, Valka – 1942) – brother
Khaim Loish (1893, Jaunjelgava) – brother