Chernobyl (Hasidic dynasty)
Encyclopedia
Chernobyl is a Hasidic
Hasidic Judaism
Hasidic Judaism or Hasidism, from the Hebrew —Ḥasidut in Sephardi, Chasidus in Ashkenazi, meaning "piety" , is a branch of Orthodox Judaism that promotes spirituality and joy through the popularisation and internalisation of Jewish mysticism as the fundamental aspects of the Jewish faith...

 dynasty that was founded by Grand Rabbi Menachem Nachum Twersky
Menachem Nachum Twersky
Rabbi Menachem Nochum Twerski of Chernobyl was the founder of the Chernobyl Hasidic dynasty. He was a disciple of the Baal Shem Tov and the Maggid of Mezritch, and published one of the first works of Hasidic thought...

, known by the name of his work as the "Meor Einayim ([the] light/brightness [of the [eyes]. The dynasty is named after the Ukrainian
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...

 town of Chernobyl
Chernobyl
Chernobyl or Chornobyl is an abandoned city in northern Ukraine, in Kiev Oblast, near the border with Belarus. The city had been the administrative centre of the Chernobyl Raion since 1932....

, where Rabbi Nachum served as the maggid
Maggid
Maggid , sometimes spelled as magid, is a traditional Eastern European Jewish religious itinerant preacher, skilled as a narrator of Torah and religious stories. A preacher of the more scholarly sort was called a "darshan", and usually occupied the official position of rabbi...

("[communal] preacher").

Rabbi Twersky was a student of the Baal Shem Tov (the founder of the Hasidic movement) and his pupil and chief disciple the Maggid of Mezritch. He is considered one of the pioneers of the Hasidic movement. His book Me'or Einayim ("Light [of One's] Eyes"), comprising insights on the weekly Torah portion, reflects his proclivity to Kabbalah
Kabbalah
Kabbalah/Kabala is a discipline and school of thought concerned with the esoteric aspect of Rabbinic Judaism. It was systematized in 11th-13th century Hachmei Provence and Spain, and again after the Expulsion from Spain, in 16th century Ottoman Palestine...

. It has gained widespread acceptance as one of the major works and foundations of Hasidic ideology.

Rabbi Menachem Nachum Twersky was succeeded by his son, the Rebbe Mordechai of Chernobyl
Mordechai Twersky
Rabbi Mordechai Twersky, known as the Maggid of Chernobyl, was the son of Rabbi Menachem Nachum Twersky of Chernobyl and the second rebbe of the Chernobyl Hasidic dynasty...

 - also known as the Chernobyler Magid. Throughout his life Rabbi Mordechai collected large amounts of money for tzedakah
Tzedakah
Tzedakah or Ṣ'daqah in Classical Hebrew is a Hebrew word commonly translated as charity, though it is based on the Hebrew word meaning righteousness, fairness or justice...

 (charity), but before his death he regretted not collecting even more than he did. His thoughts, sermons and discourses were published in his book Likutei Torah, which was praised for its holiness by other Hasidic leaders. Throughout his teachings, Rabbi Mordechai stressed the importance of pure speech and pure thought as a condition for a proper prayer connection. He also spoke of including all Jewish souls in one's prayer, even evil people. By doing so, evil people will stand a better chance of repenting (teshuvah).

Rabbi Mordechai was succeeded by his son Rebbe Aaron of Chernobyl
Aaron Twersky of Chernobyl
Rabbi Aaron Twersky of Chernobyl succeeded his father Rabbi Mordechai Twersky as leader of the Chernobler chasidim. The family surname was originally spelled Twerski....

, as his successor in Chernobyl. All of Rebbe Mordechai's eight sons became rebbes in different cities.

The Chernobyl dynasty includes the rebbes of Chernobyl, Cherkas
Cherkasy
Cherkasy or Cherkassy , is a city in central Ukraine. It is the capital of the Cherkasy Oblast , as well as the administrative center of the surrounding Cherkasky Raion within the oblast...

, Turisk, Talne
Talne
Talne is a city in Cherkasy Oblast of Ukraine. Population is 16,388 ....

, Korestchov, Makarov
Makarov (Hasidic dynasty)
Makarov is the name of a Hasidic dynasty founded by the Rebbe Menachem Nochum Twerski of the Chernobyl dynasty. Makarov is the Yiddish name of Makariv, a town in present-day Ukraine.- Lineage :...

, Skver
Skver (Hasidic dynasty)
Skver is the name of a Hasidic dynasty founded by Rebbe Yitzchok Twerski in the city of Skver . Followers of the rebbes of Skver are called Skverer hasidim....

, Rachmastrivka
Rachmastrivka (Hasidic dynasty)
Rachmastrivka is a Hasidic dynasty named after a town in Ukraine. It is an offshoot of the Chernobyl dynasty dating back to the 19th century.The founder of the dynasty, Rebbe Yochanan Twersky, was known for his humility. He was the son-in-law of Rabbi Pinchos of Kalk...

, Malyn
Malyn
Malyn is a city in Zhytomyr Oblast of Ukraine located about 65 miles northwest of Kiev. Population is 28,113 ....

, Hornosteipl
Hornsteipl (Hasidic dynasty)
Hornsteipl is the name of a Hasidic dynasty founded by Rebbe Yaakov Yisroel Twerski. Hornsteipl is the Yiddish name of Hornostaypil, a town in present-day Ukraine.It is a branch of the Chernobyl and Anipoli dynasties dating back to the 19th century....

, Machnovka
Machnovka
Machnovka is a Hasidic dynasty and part of the Chernobyl dynastic group of families.It takes its name from the village Makhnivke in the Ukraine, where its founder lived. Machnovka is an extant Hasidic group which survived the Holocaust. Its Hasidic court is now located in Bnei Brak,...

, Ozarnetz, and several others.

Chernobyl Hasidism as a movement survived the ravages of the Holocaust
The Holocaust
The Holocaust , also known as the Shoah , was the genocide of approximately six million European Jews and millions of others during World War II, a programme of systematic state-sponsored murder by Nazi...

, although many of its members perished. There are many scions of the Chernobyl dynasty alive today. Generally, at present, anyone with the last name Twersky (or Twerski) is likely to be a descendant of the Chernobyl dynasty.

The Chernobyl dynasty

The founder of the Chernobyl dynasty was Rebbe (Menachem) Nochum
Menachem Nachum Twersky
Rabbi Menachem Nochum Twerski of Chernobyl was the founder of the Chernobyl Hasidic dynasty. He was a disciple of the Baal Shem Tov and the Maggid of Mezritch, and published one of the first works of Hasidic thought...

, the Meor Einayim, a disciple of Rabbi Yisroel ben Eliezer, the Baal Shem Tov, who established the Hasidic movement. He was also a disciple of the Maggid of Mezritch:
  • Grand Rabbi Menachem Nochum Twersky of Chernobyl (1730-1797) - author of Meor Einayim, disciple of the Baal Shem Tov
    • Grand Rabbi Mordechai Twersky
      Mordechai Twersky
      Rabbi Mordechai Twersky, known as the Maggid of Chernobyl, was the son of Rabbi Menachem Nachum Twersky of Chernobyl and the second rebbe of the Chernobyl Hasidic dynasty...

       (1770-1837) - the Chernobyler Maggid, son of the Meor Einayim – had eight sons who each became a rebbe
      Rebbe
      Rebbe , which means master, teacher, or mentor, is a Yiddish word derived from the Hebrew word Rabbi. It often refers to the leader of a Hasidic Jewish movement...

       and founded his own dynasty.
      • Grand Rabbi Aaron Twersky of Chernobyl
        Aaron Twersky of Chernobyl
        Rabbi Aaron Twersky of Chernobyl succeeded his father Rabbi Mordechai Twersky as leader of the Chernobler chasidim. The family surname was originally spelled Twerski....

         (1784-1871), eldest son of Rebbe Mordechai
        • Grand Rabbi Yeshayo Meshulom Zishe Twersky of Chernobyl (1814-1881), son of Rebbe Aaron
          • Grand Rabbi Shlomo BenZion Twersky of Chernobyl (1870-1939), son of Rebbe Yeshayo Meshulom Zishe
        • Grand Rabbi Boruch Osher Twersky of Chernobyl (d. 1905), son of Rebbe Aaron
          • Grand Rabbi Shlomo Shmuel Twersky of Chernobyl-Brooklyn (d.1936), son of Rebbe Boruch Osher
            • Grand Rabbi Yaakov Yisroel Twersky, Chernobyler Rebbe of Boro Park (1902-1983), son of Rebbe Shlomo Shmuel — the last Chernobyler Rebbe who was born in Chernobyl
              • Rabbi Shlomo Twersky, son of Grand Rabbi Yaakov Yisroel Twersky, Rabbi of "Beis Chernobyl" in Lawrence, New York
                Lawrence, New York
                Lawrence, New York may refer to:*Lawrence, Nassau County, New York, a village*Lawrence, St. Lawrence County, New York, a town...

                ;
                • Rabbi Zvi Twersky - Rosh Mesivta of Yeshivas Mercaz Hatorah in Talpiot, Jerusalem, son of Rabbi Shlomo Twersky of Lawrence, NY;
        • Grand Rabbi Menachem Nochum Twerski of Loiev, son of Rebbe Aaron
          • Grand Rabbi Mordechai Twerski of Loiev (1840-1905), son of Rebbe Menachem Nochum
            • Grand Rabbi Avrohom Yehoshua Heshl Twerski of Loiev-Tshudnov (1860-1914), son of Rebbe Mordechai of Loiev
            • Grand Rabbi Boruch Bentsion Twerski of Loiev-Uman (1875-1945), son of Rebbe Mordechai of Loiev
      • Grand Rabbi Yitzhak Twersky of Skver
        Skver (Hasidic dynasty)
        Skver is the name of a Hasidic dynasty founded by Rebbe Yitzchok Twerski in the city of Skver . Followers of the rebbes of Skver are called Skverer hasidim....

        , son of Rebbe Mordechai
      • Grand Rabbi Avrohom Twersky of Trisk
        Trisk (Hasidic dynasty)
        Trisk is a Hasidic dynasty originating in Turisk, Ukraine. The first rebbe of Trisk was Grand Rabbi Avraham Twersky , son of Grand Rabbi Mordechai Twersky of Chernobyl....

        , son of Rebbe Mordechai, author of Mogen Avrohom (d. 1889)
      • Grand Rabbi David Twersky of Tolna, son of Rebbe Mordechai
      • Grand Rabbi Yaakov Yisroel Twersky of Cherkas, son of Rebbe Mordechai
      • Grand Rabbi Yochanan Twersky of Rachmastrivka
        Rachmastrivka (Hasidic dynasty)
        Rachmastrivka is a Hasidic dynasty named after a town in Ukraine. It is an offshoot of the Chernobyl dynasty dating back to the 19th century.The founder of the dynasty, Rebbe Yochanan Twersky, was known for his humility. He was the son-in-law of Rabbi Pinchos of Kalk...

        , son of Rebbe Mordechai

Famous scions

Among the famous scions of the Chernobyl dynasty are:
  • Grand Rabbi Menachem Nochum Twerski, the Chernobyler Rebbe of Bnei Brak;
  • Grand Rabbi Yeshaya Twersky, the Chernobyler Rebbe of Borough Park, Brooklyn
    Borough Park, Brooklyn
    Borough Park , is a neighborhood in the southwestern part of the borough of Brooklyn, in New York City in the United States....

    ;
  • The Chernobyler Rebbe of Ashdod;
  • Rabbi Chaim Twersky, Chernobyler Rav of Boro Park; formerly Rabbi of Maimonides Hospital
    Maimonides Medical Center
    Maimonides Medical Center is a non-profit, non-sectarian hospital located in Borough Park, Brooklyn. Maimonides is both a treatment facility and academic medical center with 705 beds, and more than 70 primary care and sub-specialty programs...

     Brooklyn
    Brooklyn
    Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...

     New York
    New York
    New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...

    ;
  • Grand Rabbi David Twersky, of New Square, NY, leader of Skver
    Skver (Hasidic dynasty)
    Skver is the name of a Hasidic dynasty founded by Rebbe Yitzchok Twerski in the city of Skver . Followers of the rebbes of Skver are called Skverer hasidim....

    , the largest current Hasidic dynasty originating from Chernobyl;
  • Grand Rabbi Michel Twersky, the Skverer Rebbe of Boro Park;
  • Grand Rabbi Michel Twerski, the Hornsteipler
    Hornostaypil
    Hornostaypil is a village in the Kiev Oblast located on the Teteriv River and the Kiev Reservoir.Rabbi Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky was from Hornostaypil.-See also:* Hornsteipl...

     Rebbe of Milwaukee;
  • Grand Rabbi Mordechai Twersky, the Hornsteipl-Denver Rebbe of Flatbush, Brooklyn
    Flatbush, Brooklyn
    Flatbush is a community of the Borough of Brooklyn, a part of New York City, consisting of several neighborhoods.The name Flatbush is an Anglicization of the Dutch language Vlacke bos ....

    ;
  • Grand Rabbi Shalom Shachna Friedman, the Hornsteipler Rebbe of Jerusalem;
  • Rabbi Dr. Abraham J. Twerski
    Abraham J. Twerski
    Abraham Joshua Twerski is an American Hasidic rabbi, a scion of the Chernobil Hasidic dynasty, and a psychiatrist specializing in substance abuse...

    , noted author
    Author
    An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...

     and psychiatrist
    Psychiatrist
    A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. All psychiatrists are trained in diagnostic evaluation and in psychotherapy...

    ;
  • Rabbi Aaron Twerski
    Aaron Twerski
    Professor Aaron D. Twerski is a professor at Brooklyn Law School, as well as a former Dean and professor of tort law at Hofstra University School of Law. He is a prolific scholar who served as co-reporter for the American Law Institute’s Restatement of Torts Third: Products Liability, receiving...

    , retired Dean of Hofstra Law School;
  • Rabbi Dovid Twersky, the Rachmastrivka
    Rachmastrivka (Hasidic dynasty)
    Rachmastrivka is a Hasidic dynasty named after a town in Ukraine. It is an offshoot of the Chernobyl dynasty dating back to the 19th century.The founder of the dynasty, Rebbe Yochanan Twersky, was known for his humility. He was the son-in-law of Rabbi Pinchos of Kalk...

     Rebbe of Jerusalem;
  • Rabbi Chai Yitzchok Twersky, the Rachmastrivka Rebbe of Borough Park, Brooklyn
    Borough Park, Brooklyn
    Borough Park , is a neighborhood in the southwestern part of the borough of Brooklyn, in New York City in the United States....

    ;
  • Rabbi Yaakov Arye Twersky, Trisker Rebbe of London
    London
    London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...

    ;
  • Rabbi Moshe Mordechai Eichenstein, the Trisker Rebbe of Jerusalem;
  • Rabbi Yitzchak Menachem Weinberg, the Tolner Rebbe of Jerusalem;
  • Rabbi Amitai Twersky, the Tolner Rebbe of Ashdod ;
  • Rabbi Chaim Eliezer Twerski, son of Reb Mottel Twerski of Flatbush, Rosh Yeshiva Hebrew Theoligical College and Rav of Bais Chaim Dovid Lincolnwood, Illinois;
  • Rabbi Dr. Yitzhak Twersky
    Isadore Twersky
    Isadore Twersky was an Orthodox rabbi and the Nathan Littauer Professor of Hebrew Literature and Philosophy at Harvard University, a chair previously held by Harry Austryn Wolfson. Twersky was an internationally recognized authority on Rabbinic literature and Jewish philosophy...

    , the Tolner Rebbe of Boston and a professor and head of the Center for Jewish Studies at Harvard University
    Harvard University
    Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...

    ;
  • Rabbi Mayer Twersky
    Mayer Twersky
    Mayer E. Twersky is an Orthodox rabbi and one of the roshei yeshiva at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary of Yeshiva University. He holds the Leib Merkin Distinguished Professorial Chair in Talmud and Jewish Philosophy...

    , son of Rabbi Yitzhak Twersky of Boston, Rosh Yeshiva of Rabbi Isaac Elchanon Theological Seminary of Yeshiva University
    Yeshiva University
    Yeshiva University is a private university in New York City, with six campuses in New York and one in Israel. Founded in 1886, it is a research university ranked as 45th in the US among national universities by U.S. News & World Report in 2012...

    ;
  • Rabbi Mosheh Twersky, son of Rabbi Yitzhak Twersky of Boston, Rosh Mesivta of Yeshiva Toras Moshe
    Yeshiva Toras Moshe
    Yeshiva Toras Moshe is an English-speaking Litvish Haredi yeshiva in Jerusalem, Israel. Founded in 1982, it was one of the first yeshivas established in Israel to cater to post-high school students from English-speaking countries...

     in Jerusalem, Israel.
  • Grand Rabbi Yitzhak Aharon Korff, grandson of Rebbe Yaakov Yisroel Korff, Zvhil–Mezbuz
    Mezhbizh (Hasidic dynasty)
    Mezhbizh is the name of the town of Medzhybizh in the present Ukraine which is significant as both the source of a Hasidic dynasty that bears its name and as a symbolic name for the roots of Hasidism.The Mezhbizh dynasty served as the earliest "trunk" of...

    Rebbe of Boston.

External links


Source

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