Israel Isaac Kahanovitch

Israel Isaac Kahanovitch (, Yisrael Yitzchak Hakohen Kahanovitch) (8 October 1872 – 22 June 1945) He was a Kohen. He studied at the Grodno yeshiva and at the Slabodka yeshiva in Kovno Governorate. He received rabbinical ordination at the age of 20 from Rabbi Yechiel Michel Epstein, author of Aruch HaShulchan.

Rabbinic career From 1900 to 1905, Kahanovitch served as the rabbi of Suwałki, Poland. He was named chief rabbi of Winnipeg by unanimous decision of all the city's synagogues. Despite Kahanovitch's popularity as Chief Rabbi of Winnipeg, the family struggled to make ends meet. They supplemented his annual synagogue stipends and donations that he received from conducting wedding ceremonies by maintaining a vegetable garden, chicken coop, and five goats behind their house.

Kahanovitch died at his Winnipeg home on 22 June 1945. A commemorative plaque was unveiled at the Jewish Heritage Centre in Winnipeg on March 22, 2016. A Manitoba Heritage Council Plaque also honors Kahanovitch at the YWHA – Jewish Community Centre in Winnipeg.