Rav Avrohom Yehosua Heschel Shapira of Moglenitza zt"l
הרב אברהם יהושע העשיל בןחיים מאיר יחיאל שפירא זצ"ל
Sivan 26 , 5635
Father's Name: Chaim Meir Yechiel Shapira
Rav Avrohom Yehosua Heschel Shapira of Moglenitza zt"l
Rav Avrohom Yehoshua Heschel Shapiro was born in 5586/1826. He was the youngest son of Reb Chaim Meir Yechiel, the Saraph of Mogelnitza, and a great-grandson of the Kozhnitzer Maggid.
Rav Chaim Meir named his son after the Apter Rav who became his Rebbe following the petira of his grandfather, the Kozhnitzer Maggid and his other Rebbes, the Yehudi HaKadosh of Peshischa and Rav Yaakov Yitzchok, the Chozeh of Lublin. (They were all niftar over a two-year period, 5574–5/1814–5.) The Apter Rav instructed Rav Chaim Meir to be a manhig. This came about some years later, in 5588/1828, when Rav Chaim Meir became Rebbe of Kozhnitz and Mogelnitza.
Rav Avrohom Yehoshua Heschel was a son-in-law of Rav Yisroel Yitzchok Baron, son and successor of Rav Yissachar Ber of Radoshitz.
On the 15th of Iyar, 5609/1849, his father Rav Chaim Meir was niftar. Rav Chaim Meir had five sons. His older sons opened their own courts in other cities: the more famous ones were Rav Yaakov Yitzchok, rebbe in Blendov; and Rav Elimelech, Rebbe in Grodzinsk. Rav Avrohom Yehoshua Heschel became Rebbe in Mogelnitza.
The youngest son, Rav Avrohom Yehoshua Heschel was niftar before his brothers. He left this world on 26 Sivan 5638/1878, at the age of fifty-two.
He was buried in the Mogelnitza ohel in the Warsaw cemetery, but although the cemetery has been rehabilitated in recent years, his matzeivo has not been found.
Rav Avrohom Yehoshua Heschel was succeeded by his son Rav Aviezri Zelig (named after his paternal great-grandfather, the father of his grandfather Reb Chaim Meir).
Zechuso yogein oleinu.
www.hamodia.com/features/day-history-26-sivanjune-24/