Pinchas Shapiro of Koretz

Born in Shklov, R' Pinchas was the son of Rabbi Avraham Abba Shapiro and Sora Rochel Shapiro.^[2] R' Pinchas' father was a descendant of Rabbi Nathan Nata Spira, the author of Megaleh Amukot.^[3][1] He was named after his paternal grandfather, described as "the famous and great scholar Rabbi Pinchas from Shklov."^[2]

He had 4 children, Moshe (born in 1759),^[2] Yehudah Meir (born in 1760),^[4] Eliyahu, and Rachel Sheindel Sara.^[5] His grandson was Rabbi Pinchas Chodorov.^[6][7] Rabbi Meir Shapiro was a 5th generation descendant of R' Pinchas.^[8]

Originally of Lithuanian background, R' Pinchas' family was against chasidus, but when they moved to the town of Wohlin, his father became a student of the Baal Shem Tov, who was known as the founder of the chasidic movement. R' Pinchas, too, followed the Baal Shem Tov, and became known as one of his most important disciples.^[9]

R' Pinchas had many students, including the grandson of the Baal Shem Tov, Rabbi Boruch of Medzhybizh.^[9] Other disciples include Rabbi Rafael of Bershadi and Rabbi Benjamin Zeev of Balta.^[10]

In 1790, R' Pinchas attempted to make Aliyah to Safed, Israel. However, while on route, he died and was buried in Shepetivka.^[11] After R' Pinchas' death, his son, Yehudah Meir, was appointed Rabbi in Shepetovka.^[4]

• Midrash Pinchas - A collection of Hasidic stories and sermons delivered by R' Pinchas. The book was compiled based on the records of his students.

• Sefer Imrei Pinchas - A collection of all of the writings of R' Pinchas, arranged by the order of the weekly Torah parasha. These manuscripts were held by R' Pinchas Chodorov, the grandson of R' Pinchas. The current version of the book includes stories of R' Pinchas and his student, R' Rafael of Bershad, biographical material on them and their families, and information of their Hasidic customs. This manuscript was bought after the Holocaust from a non-Jewish acquaintance of R' Pinchas Chodorov.^[7]