Chernobyl (Yiddish: טשערנאָביל) is a Hasidic dynasty which was founded by Grand Rabbi Menachem Nachum Twersky, known by his work as the Meor Einayim. The dynasty is named after the northern Ukrainian city of Chernobyl, where Rabbi Nachum was the maggid (lit. '[communal] preacher'). The lineage continues to exist, although not always with the name Chernobyl. Several rebbes are named Chernobyl. The central court is in Bnei Brak, headed by Rabbi Menachem Nachum Twersky.
"Chernobyl dynasty" is also used as a general term for the sects of the descendants of Rabbi Mordechai of Chernobyl; the dynasties of Chernobyl, Skver, Trisk, Rachmastrivka, Hornosteipel, and the past dynasty of Machnovka. It is similar to the Belz, Makarov and Shpikov dynaties and their offshoots.
Founders
- Rabbi Menachem Nachum of Chernobyl, founder of the dynasty, was a disciple of the Baal Shem Tov (founder of the Hasidic movement) and the Maggid of Mezritch and author of the books Me'or Einayim and Yesamach Lev. His father was Rabbi Zvi Hirsch, son of Rabbi Nachum Gaon of Narinsk. He was a maggid meisharim in the communities of Narynsk, Pogrebishti and Chernobyl, and was poor most of his life. He died on 11 Cheshvan in 1798.
- Rabbi Mordechai Twersky of Chernobyl, known as the Maggid of Chernobyl, was the son of Rabbi Menachem Nachum and Sarah. He was married to the daughter of Rabbi Aharon the Great of Karlin and then to Feiga, the daughter of Rabbi Dovid Leikas. Unlike his father, he was rich and traveled in a horse-drawn carriage. His teachings were collected in the book, Likutei Torah. He died on 24 May 1837 and was buried in Ignatowka, near Kyiv, survived by eight sons and three daughters.
- Rabbi Aaron Twersky of Chernobyl was the son of Rabbi Mordechai and Chaya Sara. Born in 1784, he was named after his grandfather, Rabbi Aharon the Great of Karlin. In his youth his father forced him to serve as rebbe, and he traveled extensively through the surrounding cities. At his father's death, he assumed the leadership of his community and the surrounding area. Active in strengthening settlement of the land of Israel, he died on 21 November 1871 and was survived by six children with his second wife.
Lineage
Scions
Scions of the dynasty include:
- Grand Rabbi Menachem Nochum Twerski, Chernobyler Rebbe of Bnei Brak;
- Grand Rabbi Yeshaya Twersky, Chernobyler Rebbe of Borough Park, Brooklyn;
- The Chernobyler Rebbe of Ashdod;
- Grand Rabbi David Twersky, of New Square, New York, leader of the Skver dynasty;
- Grand Rabbi Michel Twersky, Skverer Rebbe of Boro Park;
- Grand Rabbi Michel Twerski, Hornosteipler Rebbe of Milwaukee;
- Grand Rabbi Mordechai Dov Ber Twerski, Hornosteipel-Denver Rebbe of Flatbush, Brooklyn;
- Grand Rabbi Shalom Shachna Friedman, Hornosteipler Rebbe of Jerusalem;
- Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski, author and psychiatrist;
- Rabbi Aaron Twerski, retired dean of Hofstra Law School;
- Rabbi Dovid Twersky, Rachmastrivka Rebbe of Jerusalem;
- Rabbi Chai Yitzchok Twersky, Rachmastrivka Rebbe of Borough Park;
- Grand Rabbi Menachem Mendel Matisyohu Twersky, Trisker Rebbe of London;
- Grand Rabbi Yitzchok Duvid Twersky of Trisk-Tolna, son of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Matisyohu
- Rabbi Moshe Mordechai Eichenstein, Trisker Rebbe of Jerusalem;
- Rabbi Yitzchak Menachem Weinberg, Tolner Rebbe of Jerusalem;
- Rabbi Amitai Twersky, Tolner Rebbe of Ashdod;
- Rabbi Chaim Eliezer Twerski, son of Reb Mottel Twerski of Flatbush, Rosh Yeshiva Hebrew Theological College and Rav of Bais Chaim Dovid, Lincolnwood, Illinois;
- Rabbi Yitzhak Twersky, Tolner Rebbe of Boston and professor and head of the Center for Jewish Studies at Harvard University;
- Rabbi Mayer Twersky, son of Rabbi Yitzhak Twersky of Boston, Rosh Yeshiva of Rabbi Isaac Elchanon Theological Seminary of Yeshiva University;
- Rabbi Mosheh Twersky, son of Rabbi Yitzhak Twersky of Boston, Rosh Mesivta of Yeshiva Toras Moshe in Jerusalem;
- Grand Rabbi Yitzhak Aharon Korff, grandson of Rebbe Yaakov Yisroel Korff, Zvhil–Mezbuz Rebbe of Boston.
Notes
Sources
- Yitschak Alfasi (2006). תורת החסידות [Torat haChasidut] (in Hebrew). Jerusalem: Mosad Harav Kook. pp. 297–373.
External links
- Rebbes of Makarow-Berdichev (Chernobyl Hasidic dynasty) Archived 14 January 2020 at the Wayback Machine – site (in Russian and English) of Zalman Shklyar (Russia, Moscow, icq 277236854)
- Tolner Rebbes
- The Talnoye Interest Group
- WebCite query result
- The Hornosteiple shul in Milwaukee Beth Jehudah
- Chernobler Rebbe...
