hɪz fˈɑːðɚ, ɹˈæbaɪ ˈævɹɐhˌæm ˈæhæɹən ʃˈætsks, wʌzðə spˈɪɹɪtʃˌuːəl lˈiːdɚɹ ʌv vˈɪlnɪəs hˌuː wʌz nˈoʊn æz ðə "ɪljˈuːi mˈaɪ ʒˈɛɾəl" ðə dʒˈiːnɪəs fɹʌm dˈiːzˌaɪɐtlˈɑːvə.
His father, Rabbi Avraham Aharon Shatzkes, was the spiritual leader of Vilnius who was known as the "Illui mi Zhetel" (the Genius from Dzyatlava).