Ventspils / Windau
Born on 5 Sivan, eve of Shavuot 5620 (26 May 1860) in Pilten. Grandson of the aforementioned R. Mordechai Uriah. He studied in Volozhin under the Netziv. Son-in-law of the Netziv's son R. Chaim Berlin, rabbi of Moscow and Jerusalem.
From 5650 (1890) he served as rabbi of Jakobstadt, and from 5657 (1897) as rabbi here in Ventspils.1)
Author of the pamphlet HaKohen HaGadol VeHaSegan (Riga 5690). In Sha'arei Tzion a responsum to him was printed on the matter of permitting an agunah (Even HaEzer, section 14).
In Hadarat Tzvi a eulogy he delivered for R. Tzvi Hirsh Nurok, rabbi of Mitau, was printed.
In the treasury Or Rabbenu Chaim Berlin — Peirot HaChever, Torah novellae from him were printed under the title Etz Efraim (and in the responsa Nishmat Chaim, a halakhic exchange he had with his father-in-law was also printed).
In 5691 he fell ill and left the rabbinate.
He passed away in Riga on 23 Sivan 5692 (27 June 1932) and was brought to rest in the Shmerli Cemetery in Riga.
Words in his memory were written by his uncle R. Eliyahu Aharon Milikovsky at the end of his book She'elot uTeshuvot Ohalei Aharon, vol. 2 (Tel Aviv 5696), under the heading “Tzion leNefesh Chayah,” where his biography also appears.2)
Here lies \
our father, crown of our heads, \
our teacher the Rabbi \
the G[aon] R. Efraim \
son of the Gaon R. Gershon Mendel, of blessed memory, \
Samonov. \
Passed away 23 Sivan 5692. \
May his soul be bound in the bond of life.
On the other side [this inscription no longer exists today]:
Here lies \
the Rabbi R. Efraim \
son of R. Gershon Mendel \
Samonov, \
who served in the rabbinical office and was \
rabbi and Av Beit Din for 41 years in the holy congregations of \
Jakobstadt and Windau. \
Born on the eve of Shavuot 5620 in Pilten. \
He departed to his eternal home (?) on 23 Sivan 5692 in Riga.
Latvia and Rabbis