R' Jacob Moses Shurkin

Harav Yaakov Moshe Shurkin was the younger son of Harav Michel Zalman, born in 5662/1902. He was born in Podobranka, a small village deep in White Russia. His original surname was Shur, which was later changed, most likely to evade the Russian military draft.

He was descended from a prominent Chabad family in Podobranka. His mother’s father was Reb Zalman Freidin, son-in-law of Reb Zalman Chaikin of Podobranka.

Harav Levi Yitzchak Schneerson was also a grandson of Reb Zalman Chaikin; he and Reb Yaakov Moshe’s mother were first cousins. His son, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, zt”l, and Reb Yaakov Moshe were second cousins.

When Yaakov Moshe became bar mitzvah, Rav Michel Zalman was suddenly niftar. Now a young orphan, Reb Yaakov Moshe decided to go to Radin, where he learned with extraordinary hasmadah under the Chofetz Chaim for the next 15 years. During his years in yeshivah, his mother also passed away.

Reb Yaakov Moshe was zocheh to be one of those who took part in the taharah of the Chofetz Chaim. Many years later Harav Mendel Zaks, zt”l, son-in-law of the Chofetz Chaim and Rosh Yeshivah in Radin, wrote the nusach for the matzeivah of Harav Shurkin, zt”l.

In 5693/1933 Reb Yaakov Moshe tried to leave Europe and go to America, but he couldn’t get the right papers, so he went first to Eretz Yisrael. In Yerushalayim, he was close with Harav Isser Zalman Meltzer, zt”l.

Two years later he went on to America. There he married the daughter of Harav Yaakov Kantorovich, zt”l. Reb Yaakov, an uncle of Harav Moshe Feinstein, zt”l, had been Rav of Timkavitch in Russia. When the communists took over, all Rabbanim were in danger. Reb Yaakov and Reb Moshe escaped to America, and Harav Kantorovich became a Rav in Trenton, New Jersey. He authored Tzilusa DeShmaatsa on the Shev Shmaatsa, Chiddushei HaGra and other sefarim. At his petirah he was buried in Trenton; later, with a psak from his nephew Reb Moshe, the aron was moved to chelkas haRabbanim in Beit Shemesh.

Reb Yaakov Moshe was a Rosh Mesivta in Yeshivah U’Mesivta Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin from its founding in 5698/1938 until he was niftar on Rosh Chodesh Av 5723/1963, at 62. He was buried in Beth David cemetery in Elmont, Long Island.

Several volumes of his shiurim on masechtos have been published as Shiurei Reb Yaakov Moshe. His son Harav Michel, shlita, is a Rosh Yeshivah in Toras Moshe in Yerushalayim.

Zecher tzaddik livrachah.