Page "Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler" Paragraph 1

Eliyahu Dessler ( who was known throughout his life as Eliyahu Leizer or Elya Lazer ) was born in 1892 in Libau, Courland ( Latvia ).

His father, Reuven Dov Dessler, was a disciple of one of the main leaders of the Mussar movement, Rabbi Simcha Zissel Ziv, best known as the Alter ( Elder ) of Kelm.

Eliyahu was orphaned of his mother at a young age.

His father remarried, and would become a successful timber merchant in the city of Homel over the ensuing years, although he would lose virtually his whole fortune after the Russian Revolution, which would prompt his son to relocate to England.