Rabbi Shlomo David Sprince
שלומה דוב ב"ר גדליהו הכהן
Chief Rabbi, Riga, LatviaDate of Death:
Sat. May 25, 1929 -
Iyar 15 5689
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Directions to Kever: Baker Street Jewish Cemeteries in West Roxbury (Boston), Massachusetts maintains computerized records and will provide a detailed location map upon request. Location: Section: Shara Tfilo, large Ohel
Biographical Notes:
Source: Chachmei New England
Bio Information:
The Rav who passed away in his 90s was a moreh dasrah across two continents for over 70 years and wrote many seforim.
Credit: David Weider, Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Credit: Reuben (Bobby) Hyde
Credit: Reuben (Bobby) Hyde
Credit: Reuben (Bobby) Hyde
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This monster of a monument is actually an ohel.
Here is a sefer of his:
http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=233&st=&pgnum=1
It has very nice haskomos, and a very lengthy hakdamah.
This is the grandfather of Rabbi Sprince’s wife:
http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=6621&pgnum=1
Listed in the “Boston Register and Business Directory” of 1922 as the rabbi of Khal Linas Hatzedek 77 Chelsea East Boston/
http://www.archive.org/stream/bostonregisterbu1922bost#page/35/mode/1up/search/rabbi
The sefer linked above by Curious named Leshad Hashemen was printed while Rav Sprince was still in Europe in 1879.
Here is his Sefer Kerem Shlomo printed in Boston after he immigrated to America.:
http://www.hebrewbooks.org/38092
The copy in the link has a written dedication by his Son Yoseph Sprince from 1929 just a few months after his father passed away.
Here are two of the Rav’s handwrittings and some more information (in Yiddis):
http://www.ivelt.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=538292#p538292
My great-grandfather, Rabbi Solomon Dov beir Gedalya ha-Kohen Sprintz was born in 1846 in Mezhirichi (Ukraine) and studied in Krynki (Poland) and Volozhin (Minsk Prov.). He was ordained by R. Barukh Mordecai Lipschitz of Novogrudok (Belarus) and Siedlce (Poland), R. Reuben Levin of Nesvizh (Minsk Prov.), and R. Hayyim Zalman of Mir (Belarus).
He served with several congregations in Poland (which included parts of Belarus at the time) possibly in the Pinsk area. (My grandfather told my father he grew up in Pinsk.) In 1889, the Rabbi took a position with a congregation in Montmartre (a district of Paris), France, and became close friends with Zadoc Kahn, the Grand Rabbi of France, and became associated with the incipient Zionist movement.
Rabbi Sprintz and his wife, Freida, arrived in New York City (Ellis Island) on March 29, 1898, and lived briefly in Brooklyn, New York. Shortly thereafter, he became Rabbi at B’nai Israel, an Orthodox congregation in Paterson, New Jersey.
In 1899, he had relocated to Portland, Maine and accepted the rabbinical post at Sharith Israel, after hearing Portland described as the “Jerusalem of America”. He was described as the Chief Rabbi of Portland.
He moved on to Montreal, Canada in 1901 and served with several congregations:
• Austro-Hungarian (Associate Rabbi 1901-2, Chief Rabbi 1903-4)
• B’nai Jacob (Associate 1902, Chief 1903-5)
• Chevra Shaas (Associate 1903-5)
• Temple Solomon Ahavash Achim (Associate (1906-8)
I have incomplete records from 1909 until his death on May 25 or 27, 1929. It appears that he lived in Boston during this period. In 1912, the Rabbi published a book, Kerem Shlomo. The cover shows his address as 129 Chelsea Street, East Boston. A municipal record shows him as Rabbi of Khal Linas Hatzedek (Linas Azedik), 77 Chelsea Street, in 1922. A local historical document states that Linas Azedik was founded around 1915. Given the nearby street address, it can be guessed that the Rabbi was involved with its founding.
However Rabbi Sprintz was buried in the Shara Tfilo section of the Baker Street Jewish Cemetery which means he was probably affiliated with that congregation at some point. There is sketchy information regarding Shara Tfilio. It might have been in Roxbury during the 1920s. The name might also relate to his original congregation in Portland, Sharith Israel which later merged into Shaary Tphiloh around 1904.
Joseph Sprince, Please cotact me. I wish to ask you somthing regardin Leshad HaShamen.
hello.I am named after my grandfather
Abraham Reuben Hyde. He founded the Hyde Shoe Co. Cambridge mass. He was born in riga Latvia. as his wife . He arrived in 1888 I hear Boston, Mass ship from Hamburg. His cousin David Goldstein met him! So A R became A R Goldstein. till 1906+/-. They were coblers in Somerville. and walked or trolley to West End.Grandpa founded Anshei Sfard Somerville, Beth Israel 432 Columbia
st. Beth El Cemetery, He is buried not far from the Rav His sister Esther Mirium Glazer, too. Now the grandfather’s last name is not known? A Morris Chojet is on the board of Beth Israel in 1900-1910-1915 more or less. I have looked for relatives.
Why is this note: As Chelsea and Cambridge are neighbors maybe my grandpa is mentioned with Rabbi Sprince. The synagogues are the same.l It keeps saying that rABBI sPRINCE WAQS
cHIEF rABBI OF rIGA. tHEY HAD TO KNOW EACH OTHER.
Please add conversation in any component of their lives. thank you.
Hi. Mr amselle.
Ut was great pleadure conversing while i was in springfield.
I wrote a whole letter june 20 2018. No response.glad we found rabbi robinson
At beth jacob.now i will call city hall to get death crrt.
All good thibgs
Comment is that my grandpa abraham reuben, sister miriam esyher, husband josrph meyer were born in Riga. If relatived R Shlo.o Dov HaCihen Sprince are reading. I wish to speak posibly of Beth Istarl and. Khal Libas as Riga Latvians and shuls.
786 326 0351.
My grandpa and great aunt parents are in Woburn Montifiori . ..I think. I will be there
Nov 7 2018 I Y’H.
Kol Tuv.
Gt Yr.