(1872-1937/5632-5697)
Rav Chaim Elozor Shapira was born on Thursday 5 Teves 5632/1872 in Stryzov to Rav Tzvi Hirsch of Munkacsz, author of the Darkei Teshuvah. He was the son of Rav Shlomo founder of the Munkacszer Dynasty who were descendants of Rav Tzvi Elimelech of Dynow the author of Bnei Yissascher. From his mother's side, he was a descendant of the Ropshitzer.
He was named Elozor after his grandfather Rav Elazar of Lanczut, and when at age three he took ill, the Divrei Chaim of Sanz instructed that the name Chaim be added to aid his recovery.
By age nine his prowess and genius in Torah was evident and he already knew all three tractates of Bava Kama, Metzia and Basra by heart! He was a staunch opponent who fought valiantly against any breaches in the walls of Yiddishkeit especially against the Zionists whom he fought with zeal and self-sacrifice. He was also known as a miracle worker whose tefillos and berachos bore fruit. He established the Munkacszer Yeshivah, Darkei Teshuvah, named after his father Rav Tzvi Hirsch.
At age sixteen, he married the daughter of Rav Shraga Yair of Bialibrazik, who was the son of Reb Noson Duvid Shidlowtzer, a descendant of the Yid Hakadosh -- the holy Jew of Peshischa.
On 16 Tishrei 5674/1914, when his father, the Darkei Teshuva, passed away, his son Rav Chaim Elozor succeeded him as Munkacszer Rebbe.
Each year on 7 Adar, he would make the trip to Kaliv to Rav Aizikel Kalover's tziyun, and to visit the Rav Menachem Brody, author of Be'er Menachem at his yeshivah.
In 5695/1935 he travelled to Eretz Yisroel for a short thirteen-day visit to the mekomos hekedoshim, the holy sites, and to meet Rav Shlomo Eliezer Alfandri.
His final days were marked with ill health and suffering in Budapest.
On the day 2 Sivan 5697/1937, Netzach sh'b'Malchus, the 46th day of the Omer, he passed away and was laid to rest in Munkacsz in the same ohel as his father the Darkei Teshuva and his grandfather the Shem Shlomo.
