AVROM-YITSKHOK LAMSHTEYN

AVROM-YITSKHOK LAMSHTEYN (July 11, 1872-October 19, 1925)

            He was born in Warsaw, Poland, into a rabbinic family.  In 1901 he himself became a rabbi in Kalisz, and later (until his death) he served as rabbi in Pelcowizna, a suburb of Warsaw.  He was a cofounder of Agudat Haortodoksim (Association of the Orthodox), later known Agudat Yisrael, and a member of its executive.  For a time he was secretary of Moetset Gedole Hatorah (Council of Torah Giants) in Poland.  He wrote articles for the Orthodox weekly newspaper Der yud (The Jew) in Warsaw (1917), later also publishing feature pieces in the newspaper, and he was in charge of the Friday series “Ahuve-yedide-brivelekh” (Letters for beloved friends) which were very popular among Hassidic readers in Poland.  He also contributed to: Deglanu (Our banner) in Warsaw; Der yudisher arbayter (The Jewish worker), Ortodoksishe bleter (Orthodox pages), and Beys-yankev zhurnal (Beys Yankev journal) in Lodz; and other serials.  His book Der religyezer yud un erets-yisroel (The religious Jew and the land of Israel) (Warsaw, 1927), 96 pp., appeared after his death.  He also published under such pen names as: Yerukhem Soyfer, Rav Ila, and Ish Tsar.  He died in Warsaw.

Sources: M. Kaminer, in Der yud (Warsaw) (October 8, 1926); M. Prager, information on the Zalmen Reyzen archive (YIVO, New York); Prager, in Fun noentn over (New York) 2 (1956), p. 457.

Khayim Leyb Fuks