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He was a scholar, a doctor, and a transcriber of science books. He was born on 7 Adar 5512 – 1752 in Shklov, and died on Rosh Chodesh Adar 5570 – 1810 in Slutsk. His family was sometimes called Shi'k, which is the acronym of Reb Shmuel Yehuda Katzenelbogen, for Raba'sh [i.e. Rabbi Baruch Shklover] was related to him. He was also known as “doctor” for he was a medical physician. Toward the end of his life, he was the physician in the home of Prince Radziwiłł. The descendants of Raba'sh were called “Baruchin,” named after their father Reb Baruch. He studied in Shklov and then in Padua, Italy. He excelled in in his studies. In 1764, he was ordained by Rabbi Avraham Katzenelbogen the rabbi of Brisk, and was appointed as a rabbinical judge in Minsk. He later moved to England, where he studied medicine.

He was in Berlin in 1777, and published the book Yesod Olam [Foundations of the World] by Rabbi Y. HaYisraeli, with his addition of brief notes. He authored the book Amudei Shamayim [Pillars of Heaven], an explanation of the laws of the sanctification of the New Moon by the Rambam, with Tiferet Adam [Glory of Man] at the end, about the science of pathways (Berlin 1777); and Derech Yeshara [The Straight Path] on preserving health (Hague, 1779).

He returned to Russia, and was received lovingly in Vilna by the Gr'a. He supported him in transcribing books of wisdom and science into Hebrew. Raba'sh translated six volumes of the books of Euclid, published with three tables (Amsterdam, 1780). He authored the book Kaneh Hamida [The Measuring Rod] regarding the science of triangles. He settled in the palace of Reb Yehoshua Zeitlish near Cherkov in the region of Mohilev, and studied together with other scholas who occupied themselves with Torah. He conducted chemistry tests in a special room. He came to Slutsk a few years before his death and was accepted as a rabbinical judge. He was a physician in the house of Prince Radziwiłł, and lived in Slutsk util his death.

The Gaon Rabbi Eliyahu Zuta died on the first day of Passover 5556 [1796]. The following is inscribed on his gravestone:

Here is buried the author of the book Tana Debei Eliyahu. He diligently produced ten works on the Talmud and the Four Turim. He was a rabbi of renown. Our teacher Rabbi Eliahu the son of Rabbi M' Aharon, died on the first day of Passover 5556 here in Slutsk.

May his soul be bound in the bonds of eternal life.

He was born on 7 Adar 5606 [1846] to his renowned father Rabbi Menachem. At the age of thirteen, he studied with the Gaon Rabbi Yosef Dov-Ber Halevi, and was ordained at the age of 22.

He was accepted as the rabbi in Svislach in the year 5636 [1876]. He died suddenly in his prime on 19 Tevet 5642 [1882] after serving in the rabbinate for six years.

He left manuscripts of responsa and commentary. He printed articles in Halevanon under the name of Emesh.

He was born in Slutsk in the year 5617 [1857]. He appeared on the preacher's podium along with the awakening of the national idea. To this day, he remains the lion of the group, and the chief of the Zionist preachers. His speaking talents and enthusiastic emotion while delivering a sermon were amazing. His sermons were full of life, with wonderful illustrations from the lives of the fathers of our nation and their events, from which he surveyed the life of the nation in the Diaspora. He aroused the spirit of national might and pride amongst his brethren through the strength of his words.

In the year 5655 [1895] he visited the Jewish communities of Germany, Belgium, and England where he encouraged the spirit of the nation through his words. He preached in New York for several decades.

He was rightly considered as the chief of preaching and a first-class national spokesman. He dedicated his talents to raising the spirit of his nation.

He authored Drashot Masliansky [Masliansky's Sermons] in three volumes. The first two volumes include sermons for all the Sabbaths of the year, as well as the festivals. The third section is “sermonizing material.” He also published the book Zichronot Udrashot [Memoirs and Sermons] in three parts.

He was a rabbi from 1885, as well as an author and researcher. He was born in Slutsk in 5623 [1863], the son of Mordechai (a merchant from a rabbinical family). He was the father-in-law of the philanthropist Harry Fishel of the United States. He was educated in cheder, and the Yeshivot of Bobruisk and Volozhin.

He was a rabbinical judge in Londin from 1885-1932. He founded the Etz Chaim Yeshiva and the Chevra Shas [Talmud study group] there, and was its gabbai and principal for ten years. He founded the union of shochtim in England.

He was a member of the Zionist Center and the vice president of Mizrachi in England. He wrote articles in scientific and Torah newspapers. He authored; Beit Vaad Lachachamim [A Gathering Place for Sages], 1901; History of the Tannaim and Amoraim [History of the Mishnaic and Talmudic sages] (3 volumes), 1911; “Letters of Rabbi Sharira Gaon” and the Patshegen Haktav commentary, 1911; “A Treasury of the Languages of the Sages and their Adages” 1934; “The Written Torah and Tradition.”

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The great rabbi, Rabbi Menachem Nachum the son of the Gaon Rabbi Meir Katz, the brother of the Gaon the Sha'ch. He was the son-in-law of the Gaon Maharsha'k, and served the rabbi and Gaon Rabbi Yaakov of Tomaszów in his high-level Yeshiva in the holy community of Slutsk. (Birchat Hazevach Menachot, chapter 6). He went out along with the exiles. He published the book Birchat Hazevach of his father-in-law the Gaon in the year of mishpat (5429) [1669].

Kiryah Neemana, Vilna 5620 [1860], page 26.

He was born in Slutsk on May 14, 1873 to a clerical family. He studied in Yeshivot. He was a shochet [ritual slaughterer], a maggid [preacher], and a melamed [teacher]. He moved to Irkutsk, Siberia, where he was a teacher, and the shamash [sexton] in the synagogue from 1908.

He published the book Midrash Tzadikim in Hebrew in the year 5659 [1899], a refutation against Parisian fashions. He published articles in Hameilitz, Hatzefirah, Hazman, Haderech, and Hamodia. As an addendum to Hamodia, he listed Talmudic aphorisms --- 300 adages worked into verse.

He was dedicated to the research of Jews in Siberia and Ural. His works were published in various newspapers.

He was active in communal institutions and in the Zionist Organization.

Rabbi Reuven Maharsha'k, the author of the book Dudaei Harab's

The rabbi was pleasant in his mannerisms and wondrous in his wisdom. He was born in Pohost on 9 Adar 5637 [1877] to a family of good pedigree, descended from the Maharsha'k, may the memory of the holy be blessed.

Uncaptioned. Rabbi Shmuel Dov.

He was tall with a long beard and intelligent eyes. His entire presence exuded splendor, and he dressed finely. He was a rabbinical judge and rabbinical teacher [Moreh Tzedek] in Slutsk. He was an intelligent man and calm in his manner. He would straighten out matters and he was ready for any case of arbitration or dispute. His hand was involved in everything. His mouth exuded pearls, and he would rend hearts with his eulogies. They would say about him, “Reb Leib – he is the lion that roars, and who is not afraid?”^[1]

He was a preacher, a scholar, a pursuer of peace, a Yeshiva head, and rabbinical teacher in Slutsk. He authored the book Even Yaakov on sermons and moral lessons from Tractate Avot.

He was a sharp rabbi, the son of Rabbi Yehoshua Sender. He was born in Slutsk on 7 Adar 5638 [1878]. He studied in the Yeshiva of Slutsk, and when he was still young, he became known as an Illui [genius] for his talents, his wonderful memory, and his great expertise in Talmud and rabbinical decisors.

He married the daughter of the Gaon Rabbi Tzvi Yaakov Aspenheim of Kelm at the age of nineteen. He opened a printing house in Slutsk, and earned his livelihood in a comfortable fashion. He moved to New York in the year 5673 [1913]. He published a Torah anthology titled Yagdil Torah in Slutsk along with Rabbi Isser Zalman Meltzer of blessed memory. The great rabbis and scholars of renown participated in it.

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Many of his novellae appear in that anthology. He authored various books (see the list by Rabbi Nissan Wachsman in “Slutsk, the Host of Torah.”)

Translator's footnote:

1. Based on Amos 3:8. Return

(Who are mentioned in the book “The City of Vilna” by Steinschneider, 5660 [1900].)

Aryeh Leib Aharonovich, a rabbi of Slutsk, mentioned in the list of Lithuania (6) 472 (March 3, 1720).

Rabbi Yekutiel the son of Rabbi Yaakov Zusman HaKohen Kaplan, head of the rabbinical court of Starobin, born in Slutsk in the year 5599 (1739).

Rabbi Menachem Mendel Aharonson, 16 Cheshvan 5635 (1875).

Rabbi Alexander the son of Rabbi Alexander, a parnas [communal administrator] and leader in Slutsk.

Rabbi Yoel Chefetz.

Rabbi Shmuel Maltzman, known as the Maggid [preacher] of Slutsk. The greats of the generation testified regarding him that he was “great in Torah and the fear of G-d.” He was the author of the book Even Shleima, an anthology of the words of the Gr'a, may the memory of the holy be blessed.

The rabbi and Gaon Rabbi Naftali Tzvi, head of the rabbinical court of Starobin, son of Rabbi Moshe, son of Rabbi Naftali Tzvi, son of the Rema, who was the author of the Mapa on the Code of Jewish Law.

Rabbi Tzemach the son of Rabbi Yosef rabbi and head of the rabbinical court in Slutsk.

The Rabbi and Nagid [leader] Rabbi David Kreines.

The book of Rabbi BenZion Eisenstat tells of Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Masliansky of Slutsk. He lived in London for twelve years, and came to New York during his old age.

Rabbi Asher Sandomirsky (son-in-law of Rabbi Shachna, the well-known Shamash). He was a Yeshiva head and Mashgiach [Yeshiva supervisor and guide] in the Etz Chaim Yeshiva of Slutsk during the years 1913-1920.

Rabbi Yechiel Michel the son of Rabbi Mordechai Yona Rabinovich. He was born in Slutsk. He was the rabbi in Szuszczyn in 1928. He authored a two-volume book called Afikei Yam.

Rabbi Yehuda Tzvi Meltzer, the son of the Gaon Rabbi Isser Zalman of blessed memory. He was the rabbi of Pardes Chana and Rechovot. Today, he is the head of the rabbinical court in Rechovot, and head of Yeshivat Hadarom.

Uncaptioned. Rabbi Goldberg.

He died on 9 Kislev, 5720 [1959].

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