Mordechai Twersky

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]

Mordechai Twersky
Twersky's tomb
Title	Chornobyler Maggid
Personal
Born	Mordechai Twersky c. 1770
Died	May 1837 (20 Iyar 5597)
Religion	Judaism
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
Parents	Menachem Nachum Twersky (father) Soro Shapira (mother)
Jewish leader
Predecessor	Menachem Nachum Twersky
Successor	Aaron Twersky of Chornobyl
Began	1798
Ended	1837
Main work	Likutei Tora
Buried	Hnativka, near Kyiv
Dynasty	Chernobyl

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.

References

1. "YIVO | Chernobil Hasidic Dynasty".
2. קהל חסידים החדש (in Hebrew). p. 20.