David Twersky | |
|---|---|
 Twersky dancing with Torah (2005) | |
| Title | Skverer Rebbe of New Square |
| Personal | |
| Born | David Twersky October 28, 1940 Iaşi, Romania |
| Religion | Judaism |
| Nationality |
|
| Children | 7 |
| Jewish leader | |
| Predecessor | Yakov Yosef Twersky |
| Began | April 1968 |
| Ended | present |
| Dynasty | Skver |
David Twersky (born October 28, 1940 [1] ), originally spelled Twerski, is the Grand Rabbi and spiritual leader of the village of New Square, New York, and of Skverer Hasidism worldwide.
Twersky was born in Iaşi, Romania, in 1940. In 1945, at the end of World War II, his family moved to Bucharest. In 1947, they emigrated to the United States, where they settled in Borough Park, Brooklyn, and later in nearby Williamsburg. Twersky's father, Yakov Yosef Twersky, established the all-Hasidic village of New Square in Rockland County in 1954.
At the age of 18, Twersky married the late Chaya Chana Hager, the elder daughter of the Vizhnitzer Rebbe of Bnei Brak, Israel, Moshe Yehoshua Hager. The couple had four sons and three daughters. Twersky's wife Chaya Chana passed away in 2024, and was predeceased by her daughter Tziporah Goldman, who passed away in 2022.
In April 1968, following his father's death, Twersky assumed the leadership of New Square, and of Skverer Hasidim worldwide. [2] According to The Jewish Daily Forward , most New Square residents "revere their rebbe as a Saint, and look to him for guidance on all issues", showing their devotion, singing and praying at his weekly "tish". [3] The Forward also reports that Twersky lights his Hanukkah candles on a large sterling silver menorah that a wealthy follower bought him. [4] He exerts authority through a body of about fifteen persons appointed by him, known as "the Kehilla". [3]
In November of 2021, Twersky hosted Russia's Chief Rabbi Berel Lazar and Iran's Chief Rabbi Yehuda Gerami at his home to learn about Jewish life in Iran and Chabad's ongoing involvement in support of that community. [5] [6] In January 2024, Twersky organized a trip to Krakow in order to raise money towards the building of a new grand synagogue in New Square. Two hundred community members pledging $100,000 each signed up for the trip. [7] [8]
As in many Hasidic communities, the community in New Square tends to exercise its voting power as a bloc, under the guidance of the Grand Rabbi. He usually supports incumbents or those likely to win, putting the community in a good position to receive government support.
In 1992, New Square voted 822 for President George Bush, to 93 for Bill Clinton. In 1996, voters supported President Clinton over Bob Dole, 1,110 to 31. In 1994, voters backed Mario Cuomo against George Pataki, 907 to 63, and in 1998, voters backed Governor Pataki over Democrat Peter Vallone, 1,132 to 8. In November 2000, vice president Al Gore received more votes than George W. Bush, 1,388 to 25, after Mr. Gore visited Twersky in February of the year. During the 2000 Senate campaign, First Lady Hillary Clinton visited Rabbi Twersky and his wife in New Square, while running for the U.S. Senate, and received nearly 100 percent of the local vote. Twersky was invited to the White House in December 2000 (Hanukkah 5761), [10] and secured commutations for the criminal sentences of four Skver Hasidim, who had been convicted of defrauding the government of more than 30 million dollars to benefit the educational institutions of New Square. [11]
Twersky has been accused by multiple community members of dismissing out of hand allegations of sexual abuse of children allegedly committed by other community members. In one instance of this, upon being informed of a case of ongoing sexual abuse having been perpetrated on a victim by his teacher for five years, Twersky replied in Yiddish : איך וויס נישט, און איך גלייב נישט!, romanized: Ich veis nisht, in ich gleib nisht! (lit. 'I don't know it, and I don't believe it!') Another abuse victim who sought his council told her, "[D]on't ever tell anyone you spoke to me about it!!!" [12]
New Square is an all-Hasidic village in the town of Ramapo, Rockland County, New York, United States. It is located north of Hillcrest, east of Viola, south of New Hempstead, and west of New City. As of the 2020 United States census, it had a population of 9,679. Its inhabitants are predominantly members of the Skverer Hasidic movement who seek to maintain a Hasidic lifestyle disconnected from the secular world. It is the poorest town in New York, and the eighth poorest in the United States. It also has the highest poverty rate, at 64.4%.
Rachmastrivka is a Hasidic dynasty named after the town of Rotmistrivka, Ukraine. It is an offshoot of the Chernobyl dynasty dating back to the 19th century.
Skver is a Chasidic dynasty founded by Rebbe Yitzchok Twersky in the city of Skver, or Skvyra, in present-day Ukraine during the mid-19th century. Adherents of the rebbes of Skver are known as Skverer Hasidim.
Chernobyl 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. 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.
Twersky, Twerski, or Tverski is the surname of a pedigree of rebbes in the Chernobyl Hasidic dynasty. It was begun by the Grand Rabbi Menachum Nachum Twerski. People with this name include:
Aharon Rokeach was the fourth Rebbe of the Belz Hasidic dynasty. He led the movement from 1926 until he died in 1957.
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.
Machnovka is a Hasidic dynasty Chernobyl dynastic group of families.
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.
Menachem Nochum Twersky of Chernobyl, aka the Me'or Einayim, was a Ukrainian rabbi, and 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. He is considered one of the pioneers of the Hasidic movement.
Grand Rabbi Yehoshua Rokeach, the current Machnovka Rebbe of Bnei Brak, is a great-nephew of Rabbi Avraham Yehoshua Heshl of Machnovka, the third Machnovker Rebbe.
Hornosteipel is the name of a Hasidic dynasty founded by Rebbe Yaakov Yisroel Twerski. Hornosteipel is the Yiddish name of Hornostaypil, a town in present-day Ukraine.
The Trisk dynasty is a Volyn Hasidic dynasty, a branch of the Chernobyl dynasty, originating in Turiisk, Ukraine. The rebbes of the court also served in Poland, before the Second World War it was a large court of some 20,000 Hasidim (followers).
Shpikov is a Hasidic dynasty originating in Shpykiv. The dynasty is derived from the Skver dynasty, which in turn is derived from the Chernobyl dynasty.
Shikun Chabad, also spelled Shikun Habad, is a Hasidic Jewish neighborhood in northern Jerusalem. It includes the oldest Hasidic yeshiva in Israel and Jerusalem, Yeshivas Toras Emes.
Mates Friesel was an American Skver Hasidic politician and businessman. Friesel was a co-founder and the first, and only, Mayor of New Square, New York, from the village's founding in 1961 until his death on August 1, 2015. He ran unopposed in each of New Square's mayoral elections since 1961, most recently winning re-election in November 2013 to a new two-year term. Friesel was one of the longest-serving Mayors in the United States.
Yisroel Hager, is one of the two Grand Rabbis of Vizhnitz in Bnei Brak and a member of Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Agudat Israel.
Mordechai Hager was the rebbe of the Hasidic sect of Vizhnitz for 46 years.
Rabbi Yakov Yosef Twersky was the Grand Rabbi and spiritual leader of the village of New Square, New York, and of Skverer Hasidism worldwide.
Rabbi David Leykes was a Hasidic Av Beit Din in the city of Bar and one of the disciples of Baal Shem Tov.
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