Prais Yakov (Jakov) Hirshevich (1911) — participant in the revolutionary movement (associates: P. A. Leibch, V. V. Rubul), political prisoner.

Yakov Prais began his working life in 1924 and, until 1932, worked as a harness-maker in Ludza and Riga. From 1927 he became involved in revolutionary activities, was a member of a left-wing trade union, and took part in storing and distributing illegal literature. While working in Riga, he attended the Vinchevsky Club, where he was detained in 1930.

In 1932 he was arrested in Varakļāni on charges of distributing proclamations, displaying a red flag, and belonging to the Varakļāni Komsomol organization. He was sentenced to four years of hard labour. While imprisoned, he participated in hunger strikes and other protest actions by political prisoners.

He was released in 1937. In 1939 he was drafted into the army and served in a labour battalion in Daugavpils. In 1940–1941 he worked in the bodies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. He took part in the Second World War and was wounded twice. For his military service he was awarded the Order of the Red Star and the medals “For the Defence of Moscow” and “For the Victory over Germany.”

From 1945 Yakov Prais worked in Riga in various trade organisations as a shop assistant and store manager. From 1969 he was a personal pensioner of republican significance.