David Twersky (Skverer Rebbe)

David Twersky
Skverer Rebbe off New Square.

Skverer Rebbe dancing with Torah (2005)
Term April 1968 – present
Full name David Twersky
Born October 28, 1940
Iaşi, Romania
Dynasty Skver
Predecessor Yakov Yosef Twersky
Wife Chana Hager

Rabbi 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.

Early life

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 Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Twersky's father, Rabbi Yakov Yosef Twersky established the all-Hasidic village of New Square, New York in Rockland County in 1954.

Family

At the age of 18, Twersky married Chana Hager, the elder daughter of the Vizhnitzer Rebbe of Bnei Brak, Israel, Rabbi Moshe Yehoshua Hager.

Rabbi Aaron Menachem Mendel Twersky is the eldest son of the Skverer Rebbe. He is seen to be continuing the Skvere leadership and is often sent as an emissary of his father.

Lineage

Twersky claims to be the nearest living descendant of the Ba'al Shem Tov, and of the Ba'al Shem Tov's disciple Rabbi Menachem Nachum of Chernobyl.

Lineage from Ba'al Shem Tov

Lineage from Rabbi Menachem Nachum Twerski of Chernobyl

As Grand Rabbi

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 massive six-foot-tall sterling silver menorah that a wealthy follower bought him.”[4] Twersky's word is considered law in New Square. He rarely speaks publicly, and exerts authority through a body of about 15 persons appointed by him known as “the kehillah”.[3]

Rabbi David Twersky with then President and First Lady Bill and Hillary Clinton in the White House on December 22, 2000[5]

Political influence

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 money.

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 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 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.[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ off new square /336195019000012779 Grand Rabbi David. Twersky, Geni.com
  2. ↑ "Arson attack exposes New York shtetl". Arizona Jewish Post. June 23, 2011.
  3. 1 2 Andrew Tobin (June 8, 2011). "New Square: Where Tradition and the Rebbe Rule". The Jewish Daily Forward.
  4. ↑ Shulem Deen (May 30, 2011). "What Is Really Happening in New Square?". The Jewish Daily Forward.
  5. ↑ "Pardon Me, Boys". Time Magazine. February 25, 2001.
  6. ↑ Larry Cohler-Esses; Joel Siegel (February 12, 2001). "The Wooing of Hillary Clinton. Pardons on mind of New Square rabbi". Daily News.

External links

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