R. Dovid Shifrin (d. 5703) was born in Zhebin and lived in Pleshnitz after his marriage until he moved to the U.S. in approximately 5660.

An early chossid of the Rebbe Rashab, and later of the Frierdiker Rebbe, R. Dovid Shifrin was one of the first active Chabad Chassidim in the U.S. and served as the secretary of Agudas Chasidei Chabad in America. He devoted himself to fundraising on behalf of Chabad mosdos and assisting fellow Chassidim in need.

*

Arriving in Lubavitch by foot with just two kopecks, R. Dovid went to rest in the inn of Shmuel Ber, “the Kohen Gadol.” In walked the two Dokshitzer chassidim, R. Yekusiel and R. Aharon, to collect funds for poor orchim. R. Dovid walked right over to them and said, “I have just two kopecks. Should I give them to you or keep them?”

“You have two kopecks?” the chassidim said. ” Give them to us, and we will then provide for you…”

*

This is how R. Yisroel Jacobson described him:

Our dear friend R. Dovid Shifrin was the focal point of Anash in America. He was a heartfelt, pnimiyusdiker, clever, chassidisher Yid. He kept contact with Anash across America without publicity, an office, an assistant, or even an official title; simply heartfelt, genuine, chassidishe Ahavas Yisroel.

Before leaving for America, where his sons lived, R. Dovid came to the Rebbe Rashab and said, “Rebbe! I’m going to America. I didn’t come to ask whether to travel or not; I have a ticket already. But I don’t want to be like a child who runs away from cheder and doesn’t tell his teacher where he went. I therefore came to tell the Rebbe where I’m going.”

*

When our Rebbe, then the Frierdiker Rebbe’s son-in-law, arrived in America, R. Dovid watched him in davening and other activities. Though not easily impressed, R. Dovid remarked, “This seems to be something good…”