R. Shlomo Zalman son of R. Feitel Pocher
Jelgava / Mitau / Mitava / Litave / Government-Appointed Rabbis
Born on 16 Marcheshvan 5593 (9 November 1832) in Neustadt (Vladislavov), district of Suvalki.
He was appointed here as government rabbi in 5619 and served in this capacity for 34 years.1)
In 5653 (1893) he was elected as government rabbi in Riga, and served in that capacity for three years. In the elections held after the end of his first term he was not re-elected.
He passed away in Riga on 21 Kislev 5660 (23 November 1899).
He is mentioned in the responsa Zekher Yehoseph, Orach Chaim, section 39: “on the matter of the fixed place of the bimah, whether it is permitted to place it not in the center of the synagogue — I have already responded several years ago, approximately in the year 5624, to the government-appointed rabbi in Mitavia, R.Sh. Pocher, regarding the dispute that arose then in his community,” and his opinion there is to prohibit.
And in the responsa Meshiv Davar, vol. 1, section 15: “To the honorable rabbi etc., rabbinic decisor in Mitau [apparently R. Yisrael Leib Chaimovitch mentioned above] regarding the wish of certain members of his congregation to move the bimah of the great synagogue, which is built in the center, and place it near the Holy Ark” — and his opinion there is also to prohibit.
Di Geshikhte, p. 143. Newspaper HaMelitz, 28 Kislev 5660, with several details differing from what is written above. HaTzfirah, 28 Kislev 5660.
Latvia and Rabbis