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R. Chaim son of R. Yosef Shknovitch

Rēzekne / Rezhitsa

Born in 5667 (1907) in the city of Svoyadeshch, Lithuania, to his father the city's rabbi, who also served as rabbi in Plungyan.

He studied at the Telshe yeshiva.

By his first marriage, son-in-law of R. Dov Arye Ulshvang, rabbi of Griva and Krasava. After his marriage he was accepted here as rabbi.

In 5693 (1933) he was appointed head of the Beit Yosef Novhardok yeshiva in Dvinsk. He engaged in learning with the Gaon of Rogatchov and was ordained by him for halakhic rulings. He was also ordained by his teacher R. Yosef Leib Bloch, rabbi of Telshe.

In 5707 he arrived in the United States and was accepted as rabbi at the congregation Mishnah veGemara in Chicago.

He passed away in Chicago on Shabbat, Torah portion of Mishpatim, 25 Shevat 5728 (24 February 1968), and was brought to rest at the Beit HaChaim Zikaron Meir in Bnei Brak.

Author of the books Tosefot Chaim on the Shas.

His biography was printed in several places.1)

Introduction to his book Tosefot Chaim on tractate Menachot (where it states he was born in the city of Telshe). Toldot Anshei Shem (New York 5710), p. 137.
Here lies \
the rabbi, the great Gaon, wondrous in loving-kindness \
and a disseminator of Torah to the multitudes, \
our master R. \
Chaim Shknovitch, \
son of the rabbi, the Gaon, our master R. Yosef, of blessed and holy memory. \
A native of Shvadasts in Lithuania. \
Rabbi of the synagogue Mishnah veGemara \
in Chicago, USA. \
Formerly rabbi in the city of Rēzekne \
and head of the Beit Yosef yeshiva in Dvinsk. \
Author of the books Tosefot Chaim — \
six volumes on tractates of the Shas. \
An immense diligent scholar with self-sacrifice all his days, \
in exile and in suffering as in days of ease. \
He sacrificed himself for the dissemination of Torah. \
He established Torah and fear-of-Heaven institutions \
and was of broad spirit in his generosity \
and in his righteousness for Torah and its scholars. \
His mother's name was Chaya Rachel, of blessed memory. \
Passed away 25 Shevat 5728. \
May his soul be bound in the bond of life.

Latvia and Rabbis

1)
In Latvia: Batei Knesset VeRabbanim, p. 245, it is written that he was born on 19 Menachem Av 5666 (10 August 1906), and that from October 1938 he served as assistant rabbi in Krasava (where his father-in-law served as rabbi). But clearly this was only for the purpose of obtaining a residence permit and the like, since his biography mentions that he was head of the yeshiva in Dvinsk from 5693 for 9 years, until the Second World War.