Skaistkalne / Schimberg
Born on 18 Nisan 5638 (1 May 1878) in the city of Vyžuonos (Uzvend), district of Kovna.
He studied at the Knesset Yisrael yeshiva in Slobodka.
He served as rabbi in the town of Vyazovka, district of Kiev (at the recommendation of the Rebbe of Hornsteipl).
From 5675 he served as rabbi in the city of Lyepoli, district of Kharkiv, where he worked to strengthen Judaism among the refugees during the First World War and engaged in founding mikvehs at the request of the Lubavitcher Rebbe (Maharshab) and the Gaon R. Chaim Ozer Grodzinski.
5676 — he served a short time as rabbi in Babrovitsy, district of Chernigov, where he maintained the Beit Yosef Novhardok yeshiva.
He served from the month of Iyyar 5688 (May 1928) as rabbi of Schimberg (at the suggestion of R. Menachem Mendel Zak, rabbi of Riga) until 5696 (1936), when he ascended to the Land of Israel.
For a number of years he served as rabbi in South Africa for a congregation of Lithuanian emigrants.
He passed away in the Land of Israel on the Fast of Gedaliah 5730 (15 September 1969), and his resting place is in the city of Bnei Brak.
Author of the books: Yemei Shenosaiy — Matbe'a shel Avraham, vol. 1 (Iyyar 5731), vol. 2 (5732); Ma'adanei HaShulchan (5734); She'elot uTeshuvot Pri Eitan (Bnei Brak 5759).
In his book Matbe'a shel Avraham, vol. 2, he writes: “The truth may be said — I am not a Hasid nor the son of a Hasid, a native of Lithuania… only it was decreed upon me from Heaven to be rabbi and Av Beit Din among Hasidim, and in 5672 I wished to become acquainted with the Rebbes.” He recounts that his father-in-law was a Hasid of the Lubavitcher Rebbe (Maharash) and of the Rebbe of Hornsteipl, and he traveled to him for the festival of Shavuot.
His biography at the end of his book She'elot uTeshuvot Pri Eitan. Di Geshikhte, p. 190. Yahadut Latviya, p. 280. My thanks to his grandson R. Michael HaKohen Bershinski for his assistance. In Latvia: Batei Knesset VeRabbanim, p. 185, his name is written in error as Avraham Yaakov Rozin, and in Pinkas HaKehillot, p. 201, his family name is written in error as Reznik.
Letter of R. Menachem Mendel Zak to the community of Schimberg recommending R. Rozing:
13 Lyar [sic] 5688, with God's help.
To the honored, dear, and esteemed, all the holy congregation of Schimberg, may they be preserved — peace and great blessing upon you always.
Behold, my heart has long been troubled that the city of Schimberg, a fine and honored community, has been without rabbi, rabbinic decisor, and spiritual leader for some time; and now that there has come before me my dear friend the rabbi, the Gaon, the distinguished scholar in all chambers of Torah, wise and perfect in the fear of God and with fine qualities and a preacher — his honor the distinguished rabbi our master R. Avraham Efraim Rozing, Av Beit Din of the holy congregation of Babrovitsy, district of Chernigov — and he has told me at heart that he now wishes to accept the rabbinical position in your city; and knowing well the man and his quality in Torah and fear and that he is also good for preaching, and moreover that he comes from Hasidic stock, and in his city of Babrovitsy too he was greatly beloved both among the Hasidim and among the Mitnagdim, since Babrovitsy is a large city — in my opinion you have nothing to discuss, and such a rabbi is truly a great find for your city of Schimberg. Therefore, my loved ones, hear me and accept him with honor to this position in your city, as rabbi and Av Beit Din, and you will find in him pleasure and delight — in Torah, in fear, in preaching, and in proper conduct with his fine qualities — both toward Hasidim, and you will be blessed through him and in his wake with all good, as it is said: immediately after a Torah scholar comes blessing.
And with full confidence that you will know to fulfill my words, for it is only for the spiritual and material benefit of your city that I desire — I will be brief and say peace and blessing.
Your friend and lover, Menachem Mendel Zak, of the holy congregation of Riga, may it be preserved.
Here lies \
our dear father, \
the Rabbi \
R. Avraham Efraim \
Rozing, \
son of R. Yaakov David, of blessed memory, \
among the elders of the rabbis of Lithuania and the Holy Land. \
Born 18 Nisan 5638. \
Passed away in ripe old age \
3 Tishrei 5730. \
His eye did not dim and his vigor did not wane. \
May his soul be bound in the bond of life.
Latvia and Rabbis