By Hershel Rosenbluh for Anash.org
Across the road and next block from 770, there lived a Yid by the name of Reb Moshe Chaim Yehoshua Schneersohn-Twerski – the Tomashpil-Koidenover Rebbe. He was born to Reb Mordechai Dov and Batya Twerski in Tomashpil, Ukraine, around 5627/1867. He was a great-grandson of the Mitteler Rebbe on his father’s side, and a descendant of Reb Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev on his mother’s side.
As a young man, Reb Moshe’le, as he was called, received semicha from some of the great geonim of his generation. He married the daughter of the Koidenover Rebbe, Rav Yosef Perlow, who passed away in Kislev of 5676/1915.
In 5684/1924, Reb Moshe’le left the Soviet Union and made his way to America. He managed to smuggle out a sefer torah which was used by the Mitteler Rebbe. This Torah is now used in his eynikel’s shul in Flatbush.
Reb Moshe’le was in close contact with the Rebbeim, and he would often come to the Frierdiker Rebbe to discuss klal matters. He was at the dock to receive the Frierdiker Rebbe when he arrived in America on 9 Adar II, 5700/1940. (See photo below.) Soon after, he moved to Crown Heights.
During the Rebbe’s nesius, Reb Moshe’le attended farbrengens and was awarded great kavod. It once happened that the Rebbe arrived back at 770 from the ohel very late and Reb Moshe’le was there waiting. When the Rebbe saw him he apologized for davening so late. Reb Moshe’le answered: “ven der Rebbe davent yemolt iz di tzeit,” whenever the Rebbe davens, that’s the proper time.
He was active in the realm of Taharas HaMishpacha, and helped build mikvaos all over the USA.
When he passed away, the chevra kadisha informed the Rebbe of his passing and asked where he should be buried. The Rebbe said that he would not dictate where he should be buried and that they should ask the Rebbetzin Nechama Dina. She responded that he should be buried near the Frierdiker Rebbe’s ohel.
The Rebbe traveled to the beis oylam but stayed outside, since he had not prepared to go to the Frierdiker Rebbe’s ohel. When the Rebbe returned to 770 he asked Reb Zalman Duchman to say kaddish, despite the fact that he had a son saying kaddish for him.
On 14 Elul, the Rebbe went to be menachem avel the children. There, he joined the learning of mishnayos which was going on at the time and waited while the assembled davened maariv.
After his passing, Reb Moshe’le’s shul became the Naroler beis medrash.
Photo credits: Reb Yitz Twersky and others
great photos 🙂
Nice tribute, well done!
Why does the matzeiva say Ben achar Ben to the Alter Rebbe, if his name was Twersky?
It would seem that he is a grandson of the Mitteler Rebbe’s daughter who married R YY of Tcherkas
B”H
The Mitiler Rebbe’s son Reb Menachem Nochum, married B’Zivug Sheini Sura Frieda Schneerson Zaitsev (Twersky). She was the daughter of Reb Yaakov Yisrael Twersk [of Cherkas], and Dvora Leah Twersky, who was a daughter of the Mitiler Rebbe. In other words he married his first cousin.
The kids from that marriage went by the name of Twersky-Schneerson.
One of the son’s went by the name of Reb Mordechai DovBer. He in turn had a son by the name of Reb Chaim Moshe Yehoshua Twersky, of Tomashpo.
So yes he was Ben Achar Ben. His grandfather Menachem Nochum, was a grandson of the Alter Rebbe.
B”H
Sorry one correction. Reb Menachem Nochum was married to his niece, not his cousin.
If i am not mistaken, he was a descendant of Reb Nochum the son of the Mittele Rebbe, who was married to his niece, daughter of RYY Cherkaser.
So he was essentially both a Schneerson and a Twersky, but ben achar ben to the MR and AR.
Today is also Reb Shmuel Levitin’s Yohrtzeit who’s picture is above.
Today is also Reb Shmuel Levitin’s Yohrtzeit who’s picture is above
B”H
Sorry one correction. Reb Menachem Nochum was married to his niece, not his cousin.
בס”ד
I heard from Reb Yisroel Mordechai halevi Ben Chana Kozminsky (zol hobn a refua shlema ukroiva) that after the Frierdiker Rebbe finished sitting Shiva for His Mother, The Rebbetzen Shterna Sara (in תש”ב 1942), the Frierdiker Rebbe was very heartbroken. The Rebbe knew that Reb Moishele was a very clever person so the Rebbe suggested that Reb Moishele come to visit the Frierdiker Rebbe to raise His morale. Reb Moishele came and he told the Frierdiker Rebbe as follows:
פארוואס ווען אברהם אבינו האט געוויינט פאר שרה, שטייט “ולבכותה” מיט א קליינע כף?
[Why when Avrohom Ovinu came to mourn/cry for Sara, the word ולבכותה in the Chumash is written with a small little כ ?]
דער תירוץ איז, ווייל אברהם אבינו האט געוויינט זייער ווייניק, ווייל שרה האט איבערגעלאזט א גרויסן זון יצחק…
[Because Avrohom mourned/cried Sara for very little because she left over a “great” son Yitzchok….]
Reb Moishele basically played on the words of the Posuk, as the Frierdiker Rebbe’s Mother was Rebetzen Shterna “Sara” and the Frierdiker Rebbe’s (second) name was “Yitzchak”….
The Frierdiker Rebbe started smiling….. Mission accomplished!
Wow, thank you Rabbi Garelik for this beautiful story!
יפה מאוד. ישר כח!