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Skver (Hasidic dynasty)
Encyclopedia
Skver is the name of a Hasidic
dynasty founded by Rebbe
Yitzchok Twerski in the city of Skver (as known in Yiddish; or Skvira, in present-day Ukraine
). Followers of the rebbes of Skver are called Skverer hasidim.
The dynasty of Skver is a branch of the Chernobyl
dynasty. Its founder, Rebbe Yitzchok, also known as Reb Itzikl, was one of the eight sons of Rabbi Mordechai, the Maggid
of Chernobyl
.
There is currently one main off-shoot of the Skverer dynasty. It is led by Grand Rabbi Duvid Twersky, and is headquartered in New Square, New York
. There are two other very small groups, identified as Skver-Boro Park
, that is led by Grand Rabbi Yechiel Michl Twersky, son of the late Grand Rabbi David Twersky of Skwer-Boro Park. And a third, smaller group is identified as Skver-Flatbush
).
. When Rabbi Hershele settled in Skver (Skvira) he was elected to become the town rabbi in the shtutishe shil ( = main shul in the city). Rabbi Hershele's daughter later married Yitzchok Twerski, called Reb Itzikl, the seventh son of Rabbi Mordechai of Chernobyl.
Rabbi Itzikl was married three times. He married his first wife, who was a granddaughter of Rabbi Yitzchok of Radvil
and the Apter Rov, in 1783. They had two sons—Avrohom Yehoshua Heshil of Makhnovka and Menachum Nochum of Shpykiv
. His second wife Chaya Malka was a daughter of Rebbe Yisroel Friedman of Ruzhin
. His third wife Chana Sima was the daughter of Rabbi (Tsvi) Hershele of Skver
.
Unlike his father, Itzikl was a reticent sort and did not deliver public discourses as was common among other Hasidic rebbes. His successors generally did the same. The philosophy of general reticence and understatement in devotional behavior characteristic of Skver can be traced to this practice.
While Reb Itzikl was not a preacher, people traveled from afar to discuss their personal matters privately with Reb Itzikl. He established his Hasidic court in the center of the city, occasionally traveling to other towns in Ukraine.
Reb Itzikl is known in Hasidic legend as the filozof eloki, the Godly philosopher. He is said to have studied the works of Maharal extensively. There is evidence that he also studied medieval and pre-medieval works of Jewish philosophy, in departure from the common Hasidic practice to shun philosophical studies of fundamental faith issues.
The Haskala movement (the Jewish Enlightenment, not to be confused with the more general Age of Enlightenment
), was sweeping through Eastern Europe in the late eighteenth century, and Reb Itzikl frequently attempted to debate and confront the Maskilim. A well-known tale relates that Reb Itzikl engaged in a fierce debate with a Maskil, and won the debate after citing an argument from Sefer Haikarim.
There are no published works by Reb Itzikl himself, although a collection of oral teachings (name needed) has been published by Skverer chasidim in recent years under the imprint of Mechon Mishkenos Yakov.
In 1914 Rebbe Dovidl left Skvira for Kiev due to the Bolshevik revolution
, which left smaller cities and towns unsafe. He stayed in Kiev until his death (on 15 Kislev
5680) in 1919. He left no published works.
and granddaughter of Rabbi Yisucher Dov
of Belz
. As a young man he lived in Belz
and later adopted some of the Belzer customs. A few years later he set up court in Kalarash, Romania
(now Călăraşi, Moldova
), and later in Iaşi
. During World War II
he lived in Bucharest
.
After the war Rabbi Yakov Yosef came to the United States
. Disappointed with American materialism and decadence, he was immediately overcome by a desire to create a rural community far from the hustle and bustle of New York life. It is said that soon after he arriving on American shores he said to his followers, "If I weren't so embarrassed, I'd turn around and head back immediately."
, where his home and synagogue became a beacon for many who sought his counsel, he established a community in what was then rural Rockland County, New York
, and named it New Square. Establishing the village and its institutions became his life's work. It was the first such Shtetl
in America, and was later emulated by a number of other groups.
In 1956, with a handful of followers, Rabbi Yakov Yosef moved to New Square.
After Reb Yakov Yosef's death in 1968, his son, Rabbi Duvid Twersky, took over the community's leadership. The community grew to new prominence under his guidance. To this day, Rabbi Twersky counts close to twenty thousand followers, with institutions all over the world. Aside from its headquarters in New Square and its branches in New York City, the group maintains institutions in Canada, England and Israel
. Its School in New Square counts close to five thousand students. Each Shabbos he runs three tish
n, and his chasidim file past him five times.
Due to immense population growth in New Square (close to 1,300 families), the new village of Kiryas Square
has recently been inaugurated in Spring Glen, New York
.
.
Rabbi Mordechai's son, Rabbi Yitzchak Twersky, also left Bessarabia and came to America, arriving in 1923. Eventually he settled in the Borough Park, Brooklyn
and opened his shul on 45th Street between 13th and 14th Avenue. He died in 2001 and was succeeded by his son, Yechiel Michl Twersky, the Skwerer Rebbe of Boro Park.
, prayer, and abstention from excessive earthly pleasures in order to achieve purity of heart and mind. To that end, the Village of New Square was established, where residents are sheltered from influences deemed decadent.
A central part of the lifestyle is the attachment to the rebbe
. As with most Hasidic groups today, the Rebbe's position is generally attained through his lineage. However, to be accepted by the masses, the Rebbe is expected to display behaviors such as humility, love for fellow Jews, and general devotion to God's service. The rebbe, as tzadik
or righteous person, is seen as a conduit to God for the masses.
Modes of dress for Skverer hasidim are generally similar to those of other Hasidic groups, especially that of Vizhnitz, Belz
, and Klausenberg. Weekday attire for men consists of long coats called rekels and velvet hats. On Shabbos
(the Jewish Sabbath), Jewish holiday
s and special occasions the men wear long black coats made of silk
(or imitation silk made from polyester
) called bekishe
s. Married men also wear fur hats called shtreimel
s, and knee-high leather boots known as shtievl.
Married women wear wigs, generally with an additional covering over it, such as a hat or kerchief, and wear modest clothing with wrist-length sleeves, fully covered necklines, and stockings.
Although all Haredim
and Hasidim
stress fealty to established traditions, for Skverer Hasidism it is stressed exceedingly, and is a cornerstone of their philosophy.
Actor Steven Hill
is a staunch Skverer Hasid.
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 founded by 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...
Yitzchok Twerski in the city of Skver (as known in Yiddish; or Skvira, in present-day Ukraine
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...
). Followers of the rebbes of Skver are called Skverer hasidim.
Chernobyl (Hasidic dynasty)
Chernobyl is a Hasidic dynasty that was founded by Grand Rabbi Menachem Nachum Twersky, known by the name of his work as the "Meor Einayim Chernobyl is a Hasidic dynasty that was founded by Grand Rabbi Menachem Nachum Twersky, known by the name of his work as the "Meor Einayim Chernobyl is a...
dynasty. Its founder, Rebbe Yitzchok, also known as Reb Itzikl, was one of the eight sons of Rabbi Mordechai, 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...
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....
.
There is currently one main off-shoot of the Skverer dynasty. It is led by Grand Rabbi Duvid Twersky, and is headquartered in New Square, New York
New Square, New York
New Square is an all-Hasidic village in the Town of Ramapo, Rockland County, New York, United States located north of Hillcrest; east of Viola; south of New Hempstead and west of New City...
. There are two other very small groups, identified as Skver-Boro Park
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....
, that is led by Grand Rabbi Yechiel Michl Twersky, son of the late Grand Rabbi David Twersky of Skwer-Boro Park. And a third, smaller group is identified as Skver-Flatbush
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 ....
).
Family tree
History
The first Skverer Rebbe was Rabbi Hershele of Skver (Reb Hershele Skverer), a direct descendant of the Baal Shem TovYisroel ben Eliezer (The Baal Shem Tov)
Rabbi Yisroel ben Eliezer , often called Baal Shem Tov or Besht, was a Jewish mystical rabbi...
. When Rabbi Hershele settled in Skver (Skvira) he was elected to become the town rabbi in the shtutishe shil ( = main shul in the city). Rabbi Hershele's daughter later married Yitzchok Twerski, called Reb Itzikl, the seventh son of Rabbi Mordechai of Chernobyl.
Reb Itzikl, founder of the dynasty
After Reb Hershele died on Chol Hamoed Succos 5548 (1788) the townspeople chose Rabbi Itzikl, the seventh son of Rabbi Mordechai of Chernobyl and Reb Hershele's son-in-law, as the next rabbi of Skver. According to Hasidic legend, Reb Itzikl was given the honor of leading the Atoh Horeiso prayer on the night of Shemini Atzeres, and his prayers moved the towspeople so, that he was immediately chosen to be the next rabbi. The election of a successor to Reb Hershele as the town rabbi, which had been scheduled to take place after the Sukkot holyday, was canceled as the townspeople had already agreed on their rabbi.Rabbi Itzikl was married three times. He married his first wife, who was a granddaughter of Rabbi Yitzchok of Radvil
Radyvyliv
Radyvyliv is a small city in the Rivne Oblast of western Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Radyvyliv Raion , and is located south-west of the oblast capital, Rivne, near European route E40. The nearest larger cities are Dubno, and Brody; the latter being away...
and the Apter Rov, in 1783. They had two sons—Avrohom Yehoshua Heshil of Makhnovka and Menachum Nochum of Shpykiv
Shpykiv
Shpykiv is an Urban Type Settlement in the Tulchynskyy Raion Shpykiv is an Urban Type Settlement in the Tulchynskyy Raion Shpykiv is an Urban Type Settlement in the Tulchynskyy Raion (a district in Vinnytsia Oblast or province, in central Ukraine, 231 miles south west of Kiev. It is 15 miles NW...
. His second wife Chaya Malka was a daughter of Rebbe Yisroel Friedman of Ruzhin
Ruzhin (Hasidic dynasty)
The Ruzhin Hasidic dynasty was founded by Rabbi Yisroel Friedman of Ruzhyn, . Today, Ruzhyn is an urban-type settlement in Zhytomyr Oblast, Ukraine. Rav Yisroel's father was the Rebbe Sholom Shachne of Prhobisht, who was a son of Rabbi Avrohom "HaMalach"...
. His third wife Chana Sima was the daughter of Rabbi (Tsvi) Hershele of Skver
Baal Shem Tov family tree
The following charts illustrate the family of Rabbi Yisrael Baal Shem Tov, the founder of Hasidic Judaism.The first chart shows the Baal Shem Tov's close family: his closest relatives, by blood and by marriage...
.
Unlike his father, Itzikl was a reticent sort and did not deliver public discourses as was common among other Hasidic rebbes. His successors generally did the same. The philosophy of general reticence and understatement in devotional behavior characteristic of Skver can be traced to this practice.
While Reb Itzikl was not a preacher, people traveled from afar to discuss their personal matters privately with Reb Itzikl. He established his Hasidic court in the center of the city, occasionally traveling to other towns in Ukraine.
Reb Itzikl is known in Hasidic legend as the filozof eloki, the Godly philosopher. He is said to have studied the works of Maharal extensively. There is evidence that he also studied medieval and pre-medieval works of Jewish philosophy, in departure from the common Hasidic practice to shun philosophical studies of fundamental faith issues.
The Haskala movement (the Jewish Enlightenment, not to be confused with the more general Age of Enlightenment
Age of Enlightenment
The Age of Enlightenment was an elite cultural movement of intellectuals in 18th century Europe that sought to mobilize the power of reason in order to reform society and advance knowledge. It promoted intellectual interchange and opposed intolerance and abuses in church and state...
), was sweeping through Eastern Europe in the late eighteenth century, and Reb Itzikl frequently attempted to debate and confront the Maskilim. A well-known tale relates that Reb Itzikl engaged in a fierce debate with a Maskil, and won the debate after citing an argument from Sefer Haikarim.
There are no published works by Reb Itzikl himself, although a collection of oral teachings (name needed) has been published by Skverer chasidim in recent years under the imprint of Mechon Mishkenos Yakov.
Reb Dovidl
Rabbi Itzikl's son by his third wife Chana Sima, Reb Dovidl, succeeded his father as Skverer Rebbe. He was known to be ascetic and exceedingly reticent. He once said, "Men shvagt un men shvagt, dernoch riet men abisl un men shvagt vater" ("We keep silent and we keep silent; then we rest a bit, and go on keeping silent").In 1914 Rebbe Dovidl left Skvira for Kiev due to the Bolshevik revolution
October Revolution
The October Revolution , also known as the Great October Socialist Revolution , Red October, the October Uprising or the Bolshevik Revolution, was a political revolution and a part of the Russian Revolution of 1917...
, which left smaller cities and towns unsafe. He stayed in Kiev until his death (on 15 Kislev
Kislev
Kislev Kislev Tiberian ; also Chislev is the third month of the civil year and the ninth month of the ecclesiastical year on the Hebrew calendar....
5680) in 1919. He left no published works.
Reb Yakov Yosef
Rebbe Dovidl's son, Rebbe Yakov Yosef (1900–1968), was revered as an exceptionally pious man. In 1925 he married Trana, the daughter of Rabbi Pinye of UstillaUstyluh
Ustyluh is a city in Volyn Oblast, Ukraine, 8 miles west of Volodymyr-Volynskyi. Population is 2,283 .Igor Stravinsky had an estate in Ustyluh and visited it frequently between 1890 and 1914. His mansion is now a museum....
and granddaughter of Rabbi Yisucher Dov
Yissachar Dov Rokeach (I)
Yissachar Dov Rokeach , , was the third Rebbe of the Belz Hasidic dynasty. He was the second son of Rabbi Yehoshua Rokeach , and served as the third Belzer Rebbe from his father's death in 1894 until his own death in 1926.-Personal life:Yissachar Dov was born in the town of Belz, Poland...
of Belz
Belz (Hasidic dynasty)
Belz is a Hasidic dynasty named for the town of Belz in Western Ukraine, near the Polish border. The town has existed since at least the 10th century, with the Jewish community being established during the 14th century. The town became home to Hasidic Judaism in the early 19th century...
. As a young man he lived in Belz
Belz
Belz , a small city in the Lviv Oblast of Western Ukraine, near the border with Poland, is located between the Solokiya river and the Rzeczyca stream....
and later adopted some of the Belzer customs. A few years later he set up court in Kalarash, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
(now Călăraşi, Moldova
Calarasi, Moldova
Călăraşi was founded 1848. Long ago, the word "călăraşi" meant "horsemen". The name of Călăraşi was inspired by a legend. In this legend, it is said that once when Ştefan cel Mare fought the Ottomans, he ordered a regiment of horsemen to stand guard...
), and later in Iaşi
Iasi
Iași is the second most populous city and a municipality in Romania. Located in the historical Moldavia region, Iași has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Romanian social, cultural, academic and artistic life...
. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he lived in Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
.
After the war Rabbi Yakov Yosef came to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Disappointed with American materialism and decadence, he was immediately overcome by a desire to create a rural community far from the hustle and bustle of New York life. It is said that soon after he arriving on American shores he said to his followers, "If I weren't so embarrassed, I'd turn around and head back immediately."
Building a shtetl
After spending a few years in Williamsburg, BrooklynWilliamsburg, Brooklyn
Williamsburg is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, bordering Greenpoint to the north, Bedford-Stuyvesant to the south, Bushwick to the east and the East River to the west. The neighborhood is part of Brooklyn Community Board 1. The neighborhood is served by the NYPD's 90th ...
, where his home and synagogue became a beacon for many who sought his counsel, he established a community in what was then rural Rockland County, New York
Rockland County, New York
Rockland County is a suburban county 15 miles to the northwest of Manhattan and part of the New York City Metropolitan Area, in the U.S. state of New York. It is the southernmost county in New York west of the Hudson River, and the smallest county in New York outside of New York City. The...
, and named it New Square. Establishing the village and its institutions became his life's work. It was the first such Shtetl
Shtetl
A shtetl was typically a small town with a large Jewish population in Central and Eastern Europe until The Holocaust. Shtetls were mainly found in the areas which constituted the 19th century Pale of Settlement in the Russian Empire, the Congress Kingdom of Poland, Galicia and Romania...
in America, and was later emulated by a number of other groups.
In 1956, with a handful of followers, Rabbi Yakov Yosef moved to New Square.
The present rebbe
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. Its School in New Square counts close to five thousand students. Each Shabbos he runs three tish
Tish
Tish may refer to:* Tish , a Hasidic gathering of Hassidim around their Rebbe* Tish Jones, a recurring fictional character in the television series Doctor Who...
n, and his chasidim file past him five times.
Due to immense population growth in New Square (close to 1,300 families), the new village of Kiryas Square
Kiryas Square
Kiryas Square is a planned Skver hasidic "shtetl" in the hamlet of Spring Glen, New York, prompted by a housing shortage in the town of New Square. The property, former Homowack Resort, was purchased by the Skver community in 2006. Dedication of the site was in August 2007...
has recently been inaugurated in Spring Glen, New York
Spring Glen, New York
Spring Glen is an unincorporated hamlet of the Town of Wawarsing in Ulster County, New York, United States. It is located just off US 209 just north of the Sullivan County line. It has the ZIP Code 12483....
.
Reb Itzikl Skverer of Boro Park
Rebbe Dovidl's eldest son, Rabbi Mordechai Twerski, died in the same year as his father in Kiev. During those difficult times many Jews fled Ukraine and came to AmericaUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Rabbi Mordechai's son, Rabbi Yitzchak Twersky, also left Bessarabia and came to America, arriving in 1923. Eventually he settled in the 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....
and opened his shul on 45th Street between 13th and 14th Avenue. He died in 2001 and was succeeded by his son, Yechiel Michl Twersky, the Skwerer Rebbe of Boro Park.
Skwer-Boro Park today
Today, Skwer-Boro Park has institutions in Metropolitan New York. Tomer Devorah Girls School. And a school for boys Bais Yitzchok that is named after Grand Rabbi Yitzchak Twersky.Dynasty lineage
- Grand Rabbi Yisroel Baal Shem Tov — founder of Hasidism.
- Grand Rabbi Menachem Nachum Twersky of Chernobyl (1730–1787) — author of Meor Einayim and Yesamach Lev; disciple of the Baal Shem Tov.
- Grand Rabbi Mordechai Twersky (1730–1787) — also known as the Chernobyler Magid (Preacher of Chernobyl); son of the Meor Einayim; author of Keser Torah.
- Grand Rabbi Yitzchok (Itzikl) Twersky of Skver (1770–1837) — son of the Magid of Chernobyl; son-in-law of Rabbi Tzvi Hirsh of Skver, a patrilineal descendant of the Baal Shem Tov;.
- Grand Rabbi David (Duvidl) Twersky of Skver (1848–1919) — son of Rebbe Itzikl.
-
- Grand Rabbi Mordechai Twersky of Skver (1866–1919) — son of Rebbe Duvidl
- Grand Rabbi Yitzchak Twersky of Skwer (1888–1941) — arrived in America in 1923, son of Rabbi Mordechai
- Grand Rabbi David Twersky of Skwer-Boro Park (1922–2001) — son of Rabbi Yitzchak
- Grand Rabbi Yechiel Michl Twersky — present Skwerer Rebbe of Boro Park, son of Rabbi David
- Grand Rabbi David Twersky of Skwer-Boro Park (1922–2001) — son of Rabbi Yitzchak
- Grand Rabbi Yitzchak Twersky of Skwer (1888–1941) — arrived in America in 1923, son of Rabbi Mordechai
- Grand Rabbi Yaakov Yosef Twerski of Skver (1899–1968) — Rebbe of New Square; son of Rebbe Duvidl; son-in-law of Rebbe Pinchas Twersky of UstilaUstyluhUstyluh is a city in Volyn Oblast, Ukraine, 8 miles west of Volodymyr-Volynskyi. Population is 2,283 .Igor Stravinsky had an estate in Ustyluh and visited it frequently between 1890 and 1914. His mansion is now a museum....
(1880–1943).- Grand Rabbi Duvid Twersky of Skver — present Rebbe of New Square and Grand Rabbi of the Skverer Hasidim (Skver sect) worldwide; son of Rebbe Yaakov Yosef.
- Grand Rabbi Mordechai Twersky of Skver (1866–1919) — son of Rebbe Duvidl
-
Philosophy and lifestyle
Skverer Hasidism stresses Torah studyTorah study
Torah study is the study by Jewish people of the Torah, Hebrew Bible, Talmud, responsa, rabbinic literature and similar works, all of which are Judaism's religious texts...
, prayer, and abstention from excessive earthly pleasures in order to achieve purity of heart and mind. To that end, the Village of New Square was established, where residents are sheltered from influences deemed decadent.
A central part of the lifestyle is the attachment to the 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...
. As with most Hasidic groups today, the Rebbe's position is generally attained through his lineage. However, to be accepted by the masses, the Rebbe is expected to display behaviors such as humility, love for fellow Jews, and general devotion to God's service. The rebbe, as tzadik
Tzadik
Tzadik/Zadik/Sadiq is a title given to personalities in Jewish tradition considered righteous, such as Biblical figures and later spiritual masters. The root of the word ṣadiq, is ṣ-d-q , which means "justice" or "righteousness", also the root of Tzedakah...
or righteous person, is seen as a conduit to God for the masses.
Modes of dress for Skverer hasidim are generally similar to those of other Hasidic groups, especially that of Vizhnitz, Belz
Belz (Hasidic dynasty)
Belz is a Hasidic dynasty named for the town of Belz in Western Ukraine, near the Polish border. The town has existed since at least the 10th century, with the Jewish community being established during the 14th century. The town became home to Hasidic Judaism in the early 19th century...
, and Klausenberg. Weekday attire for men consists of long coats called rekels and velvet hats. On Shabbos
Shabbat
Shabbat is the seventh day of the Jewish week and a day of rest in Judaism. Shabbat is observed from a few minutes before sunset on Friday evening until a few minutes after when one would expect to be able to see three stars in the sky on Saturday night. The exact times, therefore, differ from...
(the Jewish Sabbath), Jewish holiday
Jewish holiday
Jewish holidays are days observed by Jews as holy or secular commemorations of important events in Jewish history. In Hebrew, Jewish holidays and festivals, depending on their nature, may be called yom tov or chag or ta'anit...
s and special occasions the men wear long black coats made of silk
Silk
Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The best-known type of silk is obtained from the cocoons of the larvae of the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori reared in captivity...
(or imitation silk made from polyester
Polyester
Polyester is a category of polymers which contain the ester functional group in their main chain. Although there are many polyesters, the term "polyester" as a specific material most commonly refers to polyethylene terephthalate...
) called bekishe
Bekishe
A bekishe, or beketshe , is a long coat, usually made of black silk or polyester worn by Hasidic Jews, and by some non-Hasidic Haredi Jews. Most Hasidim only wear them on Shabbos, Jewish holidays, or at weddings and other such events. During the week, most Hasidim wear a rekel, which is made of...
s. Married men also wear fur hats called shtreimel
Shtreimel
A shtreimel is a fur hat worn by many married haredi Jewish men, particularly members of Hasidic groups, on Shabbat and Jewish holidays and other festive occasions. In Jerusalem, the shtreimel is also worn by 'Yerushalmi' Jews...
s, and knee-high leather boots known as shtievl.
Married women wear wigs, generally with an additional covering over it, such as a hat or kerchief, and wear modest clothing with wrist-length sleeves, fully covered necklines, and stockings.
Although all Haredim
Haredi Judaism
Haredi or Charedi/Chareidi Judaism is the most conservative form of Orthodox Judaism, often referred to as ultra-Orthodox. A follower of Haredi Judaism is called a Haredi ....
and Hasidim
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...
stress fealty to established traditions, for Skverer Hasidism it is stressed exceedingly, and is a cornerstone of their philosophy.
Actor Steven Hill
Steven Hill
Steven Hill is an American film and television actor. His two better-known roles are District Attorney Adam Schiff on the NBC TV drama series Law & Order, whom he portrayed for ten seasons , and Dan Briggs, the original team leader of the Impossible Missions Force on CBS's television series...
is a staunch Skverer Hasid.
Important literature
- Meor Eynayim by the first rebbe of ChernobylChernobyl (Hasidic dynasty)Chernobyl is a Hasidic dynasty that was founded by Grand Rabbi Menachem Nachum Twersky, known by the name of his work as the "Meor Einayim Chernobyl is a Hasidic dynasty that was founded by Grand Rabbi Menachem Nachum Twersky, known by the name of his work as the "Meor Einayim Chernobyl is a...
, Rebbe Menachem Nachum TwerskyMenachem Nachum TwerskyRabbi 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...
. - Toldos Yaakov Yosef, by Rabbi Yaakov Yosef Hakohen of Polnoye, disciple of the Baal Shem Tov;
- Ohr ha-Chaim ("the light of life"), by Rabbi Haim Ben-Attar. (Traditionally studied on Friday nights (on the eve of the Sabbath). The book is especially treasured by Skverer Hasidim.
See also
- Chernobyl (Hasidic dynasty)Chernobyl (Hasidic dynasty)Chernobyl is a Hasidic dynasty that was founded by Grand Rabbi Menachem Nachum Twersky, known by the name of his work as the "Meor Einayim Chernobyl is a Hasidic dynasty that was founded by Grand Rabbi Menachem Nachum Twersky, known by the name of his work as the "Meor Einayim Chernobyl is a...
- List of Hasidic dynasties
- New Square arson attackNew Square arson attackOn May 22, 2011, Aron Rottenberg was attacked with an incendiary device outside his home in the village of New Square, New York by Shaul Spitzer who, it is believed, intended to set his house afire. Rottenberg suffered burns over 50% of his body. He was attacked because he chose not to pray in New...