Nachum Kaplan, Belarusian rabbi and philanthropist (b. 1811)
Reb Menachem Nachum ben Uzziel Kaplan (1811 – October 25, 1879) was a Lithuanian Talmudist, philanthropist, and Talmid Chacham who was known throughout Lithuania and Poland as Reb Nachum'ke of Horodna or Reb Nahum Grodner.Rabbi Kaplan was well-versed in the Talmud and the poskim as well as in kabbalah and Acharonim. Yet, he refused to render halachic decisions (except for one occasion when it was a matter of life and death) and held the humble position of shammash (sexton) in the Synagogue Chevra Shas. His piety, simplicity of life, and dedication to the community earned him recognition among the Russian Jewry.