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R. Moshe Shkruta (Skruta / Skaruteh)

Rēzekne / Rezhitsa

Born here on 23 Shevat 56491) (25 January 1889).

He studied under the Gaon R. Meir Simcha HaKohen of Dvinsk and was his close associate and secretary.2)

Son-in-law of R. Moshe Mordechai Epstein, head of the Slobodka yeshiva.

He served as rabbi here from 4 Nisan 5676 (7 April 1916). In 5698 (end of 1937) he moved to serve as rabbi in Slobodka.

He perished3) together with his family members in the month of Tammuz 5704, at the time of the liquidation of the ghetto in Kovna.

Yahadut Latviya, p. 418. Pinkas HaKehillot, p. 237. Latvia: Batei Knesset VeRabbanim, p. 240.

Latvia and Rabbis

1)
In Divrei Efraim of R. Efraim Oshry, it is written that he was born in 5648.
2)
In Yahadut Latviya it is written that he studied under R. Itzele Zioni, rabbi of Rēzekne. But it should be noted that he was only 11 years old at the time of R. Itzele's passing.
3)
Yisur Yesareni, vol. 2, pp. 487 ff. and additional sources. See there his sermon on the last Rosh Hashanah of his life in the ghetto. In Pinkas HaKehillot, p. 237, it is written in error that he was murdered in the summer of 1941 by local rioters.