Rabbi Shmuel Halevi Shapira RABD Zlotchov

Reb Shmuel was born in Brezhany, Galicia in 1855 to Avrohom Chaim Halevi Schapira and Rachel Leah Schapira. His father was a descendant of Rabbi Yosef Moshe Schapira.

At the age of 18 he married his first cousin once removed, Malka Chaya Schapira the daughter of (his mother's brother's son) Aryeh Leib Wilner, ABD Helitch. After his marriage he served under his father-in-law in the Rabbinate of Halych.

Reb Shmuel was a chosid of R' Isaac Eizik Eichenstein of Zhidachov. In 1882, at the age of 27 he was appointed a Dayan and Rabbi in Dobromil. The community of Dobromil were Tchortkover chassidim. After the death of R' Isaac Eizik Eichenstein of Zhidachov, they persuaded Reb Shmuel to go to the 'Tish' of Grand Rabbi Dovid Moshe Friedman, founder of the Chortkover Dynasty. He was so impressed by his fiery kiddush, he remained a Tchortkover chossid and continued even to be a chossid of his son R' Israel Friedman, 2nd Admur Czortkow.

During his tenure in Dobromil, he was called upon by the community of Neustadt to serve as their Rabbi. His community was reluctant to take leave of him so they turned to Grand Rabbi Dovid Moshe Friedman, founder of the Chortkover Dynasty for his advice. He advised Reb Shmuel to stay in Dobromil.

Reb Shmuel remained in Dobromil for 15 years until 1897, when he left to become Rosh Av Beth Din of Zolochiv. The Av Beth Din was Rabbi Shraga Feivel Rohatyn ABD Zlotchov who died in 1910. (Even after Reb Shraga Feivel's death, Reb Shmuel did not succeed him as ABD, see this page. This is evident from a letter written to R' Meshullam Roth in 1922 where he signs RABD, as well as a reference in Chelkas Yaakov). He prayed in the Main Synagogue of Zolochiv and lectured there on Shabbos Shuva and Shabbos Hagadol.

Around 1898, his first wife died. In 1899 he married his second cousin once removed, Freida Rosa Rosa Schapira daughter of Meir Schapira of Zbaraż.

During the first world war, like many other families in the same situation, he fled with his family back to Dobromil.

Reb Shmuel died on 'Shvi'i shel Pesach' (the second last day of Passover) 5688 - 1928 in Zolochiv. On his first Yahrzeit his children published אבלת ציון in his memory.

His son Yisroel survived the war and wrote about him in the Zolochiv Yizkor book. It was also copied into Encyclopedia L'Chachmei Galicia by Meir Wunder.

After his death his son Benzion Schapira, ABD Lisetz and Zlotchov succeeded him as a Dayan in Zolochiv. The community also prepared to elect a rabbi. The candidate of Agudat Yisroel was R' Tuvia Horowitz, A.B.D. Sanok. The candidate of the Zionists was Rabbi Hillel Shprocher of Zbarasz. As a compromise, a Dayan, Rabbi Yosef Eilenberg from Kosov was nominated as a temporary head, but the authorities did not authorize his salary. In 1932 Rabbi Hillel Shprocher was elected as head, but the authorization for this post was given only in 1938. As an unpaid clergyman, Dr. Shmuel Rappaport worked in Zloczow, representing the community to the authorities. (Source)