Editing Yaakov Zechariah of Skalik (section)

== In Communist Russia ==
Reb Yankl was engaged in building mikvaos, establishing Talmud Torahs, and ensuring salaries for teachers and yeshiva heads.

He also provided regular reports to the Rebbe Rayatz about the condition of mikvaos and synagogues in various towns. He excelled greatly in his attribute of chesed (kindness).

The Rebbe Rayatz said about him: "If I had twenty 'Yankls,' I would conquer Russia."

Once, Reb Nissan Nemenov remarked about him: "It can definitely be said wholeheartedly, just as Chazal said about Avraham Avinu 'Avraham Avinu fulfilled the entire Torah before it was given,' so too 'Reb Yaakov Zhuravitcher fulfilled the mivtzaim (outreach campaigns) before they were established by the Rebbe.'"

At a farbrengen on Purim 5686/1926, the Rebbe Rayatz praised him for the cheder he established where 222 children were learning, but urged him to open even more and said to him: "222 is good, but thousands is even better."

And at a farbrengen on 19 Kislev the following year, the Rebbe Rayatz said: "Moscow is now a mother city in Israel, and HaRIZ HaLevi should not be satisfied with three hundred children learning there and say that's enough. Rather, in every three courtyards there should be a synagogue and a cheder, and instead of three hundred students, there should be three thousand."

Reb Yankl was among the ten with whom the Rebbe Rayatz made a covenant that they would follow him on missions, etc., through fire and water.

For approximately six weeks in late summer 5687/1927, he served as secretary to the Rebbe Rayatz, who was then in Malakhovka.
[[File:יעקב מסקאליק חקירה.png|thumb|R' Yaakov Maskalik in a photo taken during his arrest. From the investigation file.]]
After the Rebbe Rayatz left Russia, it was Reb Yaakov who managed most of the work of maintaining Judaism in Russia.

When his daughter Mrs. Freida was born, her father very much wanted to name her after the Rebbe Nishmaso Eden (the Rebbe Rashab) who had passed away a year earlier, but since a daughter was born, he decided to name her "Freida" which translates to "joy" in Hebrew, with the intention that there would be joy among the Chassidim.

He was very involved in the education of children. It is told that when Reb Yoel Kahn was five years old, he remarked before the Rebbe (who was then the son-in-law of the Nasi): "Reb Yankl of Maskalik is the Rebbe of the boys, Reb Meir Avtzon is the Rebbe of the girls, and the Rebbe (Rayatz) is the Rebbe of all the Rebbes." The Rebbe enjoyed the child's wisdom and brought him a bar of chocolate.

When his good friend, the Chassid Reb Refael Nachman Kahn, was sent by the KGB to exile in Siberia, Reb Yankl took great care of his family. For example: on Pesach, he went to Reb Polle's home and conducted the Seder for Reb Polle's wife and children, and only afterward did he go to his own home to make the Seder with his family.