Sambor, a large town in Eastern Galicia (today’s Western Ukraine) hosted a well-known Jewish community until its destruction during the Second World War.

During the past few years Oholei Tzadikim and Geder Avos have restored the graves of four of the prominent rabbis and chassidic masters who were laid to rest in the local cemetery, namely:

Reb Yitzchok Chorif (d.1813), rabbi of Sambor and author of the halachic responsa Shu”t Pnei Yitzchok.

Reb Uri Yolles (1833-1910) was the first chassidic rebbe in Sambor. He had studied under Sar Shalom of Belz, who once said of him that “yesterday he had gilui Eliyahu, but he himself isn’t aware of it.” Reb Uri began leading a group of chassidim after the passing of Sar Shalom, and was in turn succeeded by his oldest son, Reb Yehudah Tzvi (d. 1919).

Reb Chaim Yitzchok Yerucham of Sambor (1864-1942), known as “the Altshtadter Rav,” was one of the eminent halachic decisors of Galicia and throughout the Austrian Empire. He passed away in Sambor ghetto and was buried in the newer of Sambor’s cemeteries.

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