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       Date Last Updated: 18-May-2012

Vitebsk District and Towns

 
  VITEBSK DISTRICTS AND TOWNS  
 


Drissa

Russian city in the government of Vitebsk. The population in 1897 was 4,237, of whom 2,856 were Jews. There were 657 artisans (including 229 masters) and 158 day-laborers. Among its charitable institutions may be noted the Bikkur Holim, and among its educational institutions a county school with 120 pupils (7 of whom are Jews) and a day-school with 70 pupils (12 of whom are Jews).

Drissa existed as early as the fourteenth century, and Jews are mentioned there in connection with the lumber trade in 1547 ("Regesty i Nadpisi," No. 464). Situated on the Drissa, an affluent of the Düna, Drissa was a center for the export of lumber and grain to Riga and Danzig, a trade which was entirely in the hands of the Jews. (JE)

Famous Rabbis and Rabbinical Family

This information was donated by EP.

1. Baruch Don Yachya born about 1740 in OSHAZ Vitebsk region a Rabbi in Dissna. He Restored Don-Yachya name in 1804 when authorities ordered names for families. RABBI OF AND LIVED IN DISNA (133km WEST OF VITEBSK 55°34'/28°13') 1770 father-in-law was Shlomo Hazenfurt Exile from Spain

2. Chaim Don Yachya born 1790/ Died after 1817. Drissa/Disna Rabbi of c.1800 Drissa is now apparently called Verkhnedvinsk 157km WNW of Vitebsk 55°47'/27°56' Yad Vashem Archival Material Part 3 VolumeV 1979 Latter Day Leaders Sages and Scholars Emanuel Rosenstein NeilRosenstein Elizabeth, N.J.: Computer Centre for Jewish Genealogy 1983 DISNA (133km WEST OF VITEBSK 55°34'/28°13')

3. Chaim Don Yachya born 1840 died in Shlkov 1913. Was a twin. Rabbi of Drissa also of Shklov. (Bylorussia 114km South of Vitebsk) History of this rabbi and his son Yehudah Leib is in the journal Yagdil Torah. Jerusalem 24 p35. Head of Rabbinical Court in Drissa after his father. Close to Chabad Chassidism. Said to be a Lubavitcher Chasid.His Rebbe was the Tzemah Tzedek? RabbiMenachem Mendl Schneerson died 1866 Drissa Bylorussia is now apparently called Verkhnedvinsk 157km WNW of Vitebsk 55°47'/27°56' Yad Vashem Archival Material Part 3 VolumeV 1979 Latter Day Leaders Sages and Scholars Emanuel Rosenstein NeilRosenstein Elizabeth, N.J.: Computer Centre for Jewish Genealogy 1983

4. Eliezer Don Yachya born 1834/38 in Drissa Vitebsk died 1927 Ludza Latvia. WHEN 26 APPOINTED RABBI OF VIZON (KOVNO DISTRICT). LATER RABBI OF LUTZIN FROM 1876 FOR 47 YEARS.AUTHOR OF EVEN SHTIYA VILNA 1893 This seems to be Ludza in Latvia107km NE of Daugvapils 56°33'/27°43' In Riga in 2000 there is a jewishmuseum. There there is a photograph of Eliezer Don -Hio! he is called the gaon of Liutzin (Ludza) See Photo of grave and detais from Zeeva Levy At birth his father was registered as Donchin. Riga Archives.

5. Menachem Mendl Don Yachya born 1840 twin to Chaim above, (and my GGGrandfather) RABBI OF KOPICE also known as Kapust c.1840 KOPYS. (101km S of Vitebsk) 54° 19'/ 30° 18' . ed 1920. See book Rabbi Eliezer Don Yehai ( Jerusalem 5692 1932) Yad Vashem Archival Material Part 2 Volume IV 1977 Latter Day Leaders Sages and Scholars Emanuel Rosenstein NeilRosenstein Elizabeth, N.J.: Computer Centre for Jewish Genealogy 1983 . From the general list of male population living in Shtetl Volntzach on Dryssenskogo Uezda in the province of Vitebsk in 1874 was registered Doniyachin, Mendel Shepshelevich and his son Shmuel

The Ritz (and Ritch, Rich), Rankin, and Savin Families


Duma voter lists for Drissa uezd (Vitebsk gubernia) are available at:


http://www.angelfire.com/ms2/belaroots/drissa.htm

The lists contain the full names and places of residence of the Jewish voters.

This list was compiled by Michael Steinore.