Chernobyl (Hasidic dynasty)
Chernobyl is a Chassidic dynasty that was founded by the Rebbe Menachem Nachum Twersky of Chernobyl. It originated in the Ukrainian town of Chernobyl (of nuclear accident fame).
The first Rebbe was a student of the Baal Shem Tov and his pupil the Maggid of Mezritch. He is considered one of the pioneers of the Chassidic movement. His book Me'or Einayim (literally "Light of One's Eyes), comprising insights on the weekly portions of the Torah, reflects his proclivity to Kabbalah. It has gained widespread acceptance as one of the major works of chassidic ideology.
The first Rebbe was succeeded by his son Rebbe Mordechai of Chernobyl. Throughout his life Rabbi Mordechai collected large amounts of money for charity, but before his death he regretted not collecting even more than he did. His thoughts, sermons and discourses were published in his book Likutei Torah, which was praised for its holiness by other Chassidic leaders. Throughout his teachings R' Mordechai stressed the importance of pure speech and pure thought as a condition for a proper prayer connection. He also spoke of including all of the souls of Yisrael in one's prayer, even evil people. By doing so, evil people will stand a better chance of repenting (teshuvah).
Chernobyl Chassidism as a movement survived the ravages of the Holocaust, although many of its members perished. There are many scions of the Chernobyl Dynasty that exist today. Anyone with the last name Twersky (also spelled twerski) is a direct descendant of the Chernobyl dynasty.
Among the famous scions of the Chernobyl dynasty existing today are:
- Grand Rebbe David Twersky.
(The largest Hasidic sect coming from Chernobyl is Skver, which is today based in the New York State town of New Square under the leadership of the Rebbe of the related Skverer Chassidic dynasty)
- Grand Rebbe Yaakov Yisrael Twersky, the Chernobyler Rebbe of Boro Park;
- Rabbi Yeshaya Twersky, The Chernobyler Rebbe of Boro Park;
- The Chernobyler Rebbe of Bnei Brak;
- The Chernobyler Rebbe of Ashdod;
- Rabbi Chaim Twersky, Chernoblyer Rav; formerly Rabbi of Miamonidies Hospital Brooklyn New York;
- Grand Rebbe Michael Twersky, the Hornesteipler Rebbe of Milwaukee;
- Grand Rebbe Mordechai Twersky, the Hornesteipler-Denver Rebbe of Flatbush;
- Rabbi Dr. Abraham J. Twerski, noted author and psychiatrist;
- Rabbi Aaron Twerski, Esq., Dean of Hofstra Law School;
- Rabbi Mordechai Twersky, The Rachmastrivka Rebbe of Jerusalem;
- Rabbi Chai Yitzchok Twersky, The Rachmastrivka Rebbe of Boro Park;
- The Tolner Rebbe of Jerusalem;
- Rabbi Amitai Twersky The Tolner Rebbe of Ashdod ;
- Rabbi Eichenstien The Trisker Rebbe of Jerusalem;
- The Trisker Rebbe of London;
- Grand Rabbi Michel Twersky, the Skwerer Rebbe of Boro Park;
- Grand Rabbi David Twersky, the Skverer Rebbe of New Square;
- Rabbi Mayer Twersky, a scion of the Tolna dynasty, Rosh Yeshiva of Rabbi Isaac Elchanon Theological Seminary of Yeshiva University;
- Rabbi Yitzhak Twersky zt"l (aka Professor Isadore Twersky), the Tolna Rebbe and a professor at Harvard, and many others.
- Rabbi Shlomo Twersky, son of Rebbe Yaakov Yisroel Twersky (the last Chernobyler Rebbe to actually serve in Chernobyl), Rabbi of "Beis Chernobyl" in Lawrence, New York.