Rabbi Yisroel of Shklov learnt Torah from the great rabbis of his time and was famous for being sharp, knowledgeable and a great Tzaddik. He was a student of the Grah and had the privilege of serving him in his late years. He was head of the 2nd group of the Grah’s students who moved to Israel.
Rabbi Yisroel later settled in Tsfat, together with other Torah scholars. Rabbi Yisroel was always available to the public. He was there for them for both their material and spiritual needs.
Following the strong earthquake in Tsfat, he decided to move to Jerusalem, where he became head of the Ashkenzi ethnic group in the city. He edited and published the commentary of the Grah on the “Shulchan Aruch” as well as writing his own books. Among his works were: “Tkalin TaDatin” on tractate Shkalim, and “Pe’at Shulchan”, on the halachic rules regarding Israel.
He died in 1839 and was buried in Tiberias.