Mordechai Twersky Explained

Chornobyler Maggid
Began:1798
Ended:1837
Birth Name:Mordechai Twersky
Main Work:Likutei Tora
Predecessor:Menachem Nachum Twersky
Successor:Aaron Twersky of Chornobyl
Spouse:Chaya Soro (daughter of Aharon of Karlin), Feygele (daughter of Dovid Leikes)
Children:Aaron Twersky of Chornobyl
Moshe Twersky of Korostyshiv
Yaakov Yisroel Twersky of Cherkasy
Malka, Menachem Nochum Twersky of Makariv
Avrohom Twersky of Trisk
Dovid Twersky of Talne
Yitschok Twersky of Skvira
Yochonon Twersky of Rakhmastrivka
Chana Chaya Twersky
Dynasty:Chernobyl
Father:Menachem Nachum Twersky
Mother:Soro Shapira
Birth Date:c. 1770
Death Date:May 1837 (20 Iyar 5597)
Buried:Hnativka, near Kyiv

Mordechai Twersky (c. 1770–1837), known as Motele, was a Ukrainian rabbi. He was the son of Rabbi Menachem Nachum Twersky of Chernobyl and the second rebbe of the Chernobyl Hasidic dynasty. The family surname is Russian for "native of Tver", although Hasidic tradition connects it with the city of Tiberias. Unlike his father, who had lived frugally, he was known for requisitioning wealth from his followers. Seven of his eight sons were rebbes, from whom several branches of Hasidism emerged, including Skver, Chernobyl and Rachmastrivka.[1]

Biography

Twersky was born in Chernobyl to Sarah and Rabbi Menachem Nachum of Chernobyl, a disciple of the Baal Shem Tov and the Maggid of Mezeritch and author of the book Me'or Einayim.

Twersky married Chaya Sara the daughter of Rabbi Aharon of Karlin; after her death he married Faiga the daughter of Rabbi Dovid Leykes who was a student of the Baal Shem Tov.[2]

His thoughts, sermons and discourses were published in his book Likutei Torah.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: YIVO | Chernobil Hasidic Dynasty .
  2. Book: קהל חסידים החדש . 20 . he.