Reb Yekele of Oshpitzin was the Dayan in Oshpitzin and the Rov of Kshanov.
He was one of the most prominent Rabbonim of his time, the generation of Torah giants like the Chasam Sofer and the Sanze Rebbe.
He wrote many Chidushim on the Torah and on Shas, that were published by his children.
Many family members were killed during the holocaust but his descendants that survived managed to rebuild beautiful families and communities.
Some of his descendants were sadly killed in recent years, having been murdered by Arabs; one Einekel, was shot in middle of his learning at Yeshivas Mercaz HaRav Kook
Another one - Miriam Scharf (a descendant by marriage) wife of Rabbi Shmuel Scharf was killed when a rocket hit the apartment she was staying in Kiryat Malakhi
There are currently (November 2015) about 2,500 - as of November 2023, 4,500 descendants in the world, from amongst them there are some in Belz, some in Bobov, some in Sadigura and some in Chabad.
Sources:
Yonadav Chaim Hirshfeld 18 Kokhav HaShahar
Pictures: by Netanel Kind in
Pictures: by Netanel Kind in
עליה לציונו של הסבא ר' משה יעקב "ר' יעקעלע"
שארף, באושפיצין
