Moshe Shatzkes

Moshe Shatzkes (Hebrew: משה שאצקס‎‎; 1881–1958) was a renowned rabbi, Talmudic scholar and noted genius, commonly known as the "Lomzshe/Łomża Rov". He was one of the pre-eminent Roshei Yeshiva (yeshiva heads) and one of the greatest rabbis in all of Poland. He was a leader in all aspects of communal life, well known as an outstanding orator, scholar, and halachic arbitrator.

Shatzkes was a close friend of Rabbi Yitzchak Halevi Herzog, chief rabbi of Israel, and had been a close friend and confidante of both the Chofetz Chaim and Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzinski before the Second World War. Indeed, he eulogised at both their funerals.

Shatzkes was born in Vilnius, Lithuania in 1881, the scion of a distinguished Rabbinic dynasty. His father, Rabbi Avraham Aharon Shatzkes, was the spiritual leader of Vilnius who was known as the "Illui mi Zhetel" - or the Genius from Dzyatlava which in Yiddish is called Zhetel, one of the most famous Torah sages in Lithuania, and reputed to have been proficient in the entire Talmud at the age of only 17.

His mother, Chaya Resha, was the daughter of Rabbi Avraham Abba Edelson of Vilnius, and granddaughter both of Rabbi Chaim Dworetzky, rabbi of Zelve and Rabbi Yitzchak Sherwinter, Av Beth Din of Vilnius.

Shatzkes was only 3 years old when his father died. Soon after, at the suggestion of her uncle, Rabbi Elya Eliezer Grodzinski (father-in-law of Rabbi Chaim Ozer), his mother remarried Rabbi Yitzchak Blazer (known as Reb Itzele Peterburger), one of the pupils of Rabbi Yisrael Salanter.

Shatzkes was brought up and educated by Reb Itzele and was sent to study at the great yeshivas of Slabodka and Telz. In 1904, he received Semicha (rabbinical ordination) from Rabbis Refael Shapiro of Volozhin, Eliezer Gordon of Telz and Eliezer Rabinowitz of Minsk.

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