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R. Moshe son of R. Yehoshua Aizik Shapira

Riga

Born in 5598 (1838) in the city of Kalvarija, Lithuania, to his father (known as “R. Ayzel Charif”) who served there as rabbi, and afterward as rabbi in Kutno, Tykocin, and Slonim. He studied under his father.

In approximately 5628, at age 30, he was accepted as rabbi in Veksne, and from there was accepted as rabbi in Vilkomir, where he served in the rabbinate for about ten years.

He served as chief rabbi of Riga from 56421) until his passing in 5671 (1882–1910).

Author of the books: Penei Moshe, vol. 1, on tractate Pesachim (Vilna 5632); Penei Moshe, commentary on the Passover Haggadah (Warsaw 5655); Derashot MaHaRaM (Piotrków 5660); Birkat Moshe, commentary on sacred Scripture from the Torah, Prophets, and Writings (Piotrków 5669); he also printed his father's novellae Emek Yehoshua with his own novellae under the title Sfat HaEmek (Piotrków 5656).

Approbations from him: Midrash Rabbah on Song of Songs with the commentary Kanfei Yonah (Warsaw 5636), Pri Eshel (Vilna 5637), Milchemet Aharon (Vilna 5640), Pri Yosef (Vilna 5646), Binyan Yehoshua (Warsaw 5658), Me'iri Halakha (vol. 1, Jerusalem 5656; vol. 2, there, approximately 5658), Birkat Avraham, vol. 1 (Vilna 5659, reprinted in vol. 3, Warsaw 5673), Minchot Yaakov (New York 5661), Magen HaTalmud (Warsaw 5662), HaMadrich (Pressburg 5662), Magen David (Warsaw 5665), Meshiv Nefesh (Vilna 5666), She'iltot Rav Achai Gaon with the commentaries She'ilat Shalom and Sho'el Ke'inyan (Vilna 5668), Yad Aharon (Warsaw 5669), Shem HaGedolim HaShlishi (Vilna 5670), Chamesh Yadot uBeSha'arei Zevach (Jerusalem 5673).

He is co-signed together with the Lubavitcher Rebbe (Maharshab) on a “public proclamation” from the month of Marcheshvan 5668, a regulation on the matter of ritual slaughter.2)

He passed away in Riga on 19 Kislev 5671 (20 December 1910) and was brought to rest here.3)

Dor Rabbanov veSoferav, vol. 4, p. 37.

Latvia and Rabbis

1)
In Pinkas HaKehillot, p. 251, it is written that he was accepted as chief rabbi of Riga in 1886 — 5646, and likewise in Ishim veKehillot, p. 460. But in HaMelitz newspaper of 21 January 1884 he is already mentioned as rabbi here.
2)
Responsa Torat Shalom, section 34.
3)
The death registration book of the Riga community — where it is written that he served as assistant rabbi of Riga, even though in practice he served for approximately 25 years as the chief rabbi of the city, since there was also a government-appointed rabbi in the city and therefore he was not considered the official rabbi.