This week I received an email from a family genealogist who had found some taped interviews I made with my father and his two brothers back in 1998. In it my Uncle Sam referred to his great-uncle, the famous Rabbi.
Her husband’s great-grandfather was Rabbi Jacob Joseph Hurvitz. He was also my father’s great-uncle, the brother of my great-grandfather, Morris Shapiro. It took a great effort on the genealogist’s part to figure out that the two were connected.
The reason the brother’s have different last names is that while in Russia, the way to stop inscription in the army, was to buy the name of someone who died. Both of the brothers were originally named Kaplan.
My great-great uncle, Rabbi J J Hurvitz was Chief Rabbi of Lynn, MA at the time of his death in 1931. Before that he was the Rabbi at our own Toras Chaim on Negley Avenue and before that he was the Chief Rabbi of Chelsea.
Pretty good yikhes for me!
BubbeWisdom 
I knew you were a “great spiritual soul”
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I would like your name and email address.
Rabbi Jacob Joseph Hurvitz was my grandfather.
Rabbi Nathan N. Hurvitz was my father.
I live in Los Angeles, California.
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Hello, Rabbi Jacob Hurvitz was my great grandfather, and the namesake to my son. I am the grand daughter of his youngest child Anne.
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