Skwer Boro Park (Hasidic dynasty)

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Skwer (Skver) - Boro Park is a Hasidic group that originated in the Ukrainian city of Skvira.

This group is presently led by Grand Rabbi Michael Twersky, son of the late Rabbi David Twersky of Grand Rabbi of Skwer-Boro Park.

1 Outline of Skwer - Boro Park Dynasty
2 History of Skwer
- 2.1 Skwer comes to America
3 Skwer - Boro Park Today
4 See also

[edit] Outline of Skwer - Boro Park Dynasty

Grand Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov (1688-1760), founder of Hasidism
- Grand Rabbi Menachem Nachum Twersky of Chernobyl (1730-1787), author of Meor Einayim, disciple of the Baal Shem Tov
  - Grand Rabbi Mordecai Twersky of Chernobyl (1770-1837), author of Likutei Torah, son of the Meor Einayim
    - Grand Rabbi Yitzchak (Itzik'l) Twersky of Skwer (1812-1845), son of the Likutei Torah
      - Grand Rabbi David (Duvid'l) Twersky of Skwer (1848-1919), son of Rabbi Yitzchak
        
        Grand Rabbi Mordechai Twersky of Skwer (1866-1919), son of Rabbi David
        
        Grand Rabbi Yitzchak Twersky of Skwer (1888-1941), arrived in America in 1923, son of Rabbi Mordechai
        
        Grand Rabbi David Twersky of Skwer-Boro Park (1912-2001), son of Rabbi Yitzchak
        
        Grand Rabbi Yechiel Michael Twersky, present Skwer Rebbe of Boro Park, son of Rabbi David

[edit] History of Skwer

The first Skverer Rebbe was Rabbi Hershele of Skver (Reb Hershele Skverrer), a grand son of Baal Shem Tov. When Reb Hershele setteld in Skver (Skvira) he was elected to become the Rabbi in the shtutishe shil (Yiddish: שטאטישע שול = main shul in the city). Reb Hershele's daughter later married Yitzchok Twerski, called Reb Itzikl, the seventh son of Rabbi Mordechai of Chernobyl.

Reb Hershele died on Chol Hamoed Sukkot, 1748. The election for a new Rabbi was scheduled to take place after the Sukkot holiday. It's said that on the night of Shemini Atzeret Reb Itzikl led the prayers and impressed the townspeople so much that they canceled the elections and appointed him Rabbi.

Unlike his father, the Chernobyler Magid, Reb Itzikl was not a preacher. But people traveled from afar him to privately discuss their personal matters with Reb Itzikl. He established his Hasidic court in the center of the city, occasionally traveling to other towns in Ukraine. As the forces of Haskalah were sweeping through Eastern Europe, Reb Itzik'l frequently attempted to debate and confront proponents of the Haskalah movement.

Reb Dovid'l succeeded his father (Reb Itzikl) as leader. He was known for being ascetic and exceedingly reticent. He once said, "Men shvagt un men shvagt, dernoch ruet men abisl un men shvagt vater" ("We keep silent and we keep silent; then we rest a bit, and go on keeping silent").

Grand Rabbi David Twersky, the late Skwerer Rebbe of Boro Park

In 1914 Rabbi Dovid'l left Skvira for Kiev due to the Bolshevik revolution, which left smaller cities and towns unsafe. He stayed in Kiev until his death in 1920. Reb Mordechai (Rabbi Mordechai Twersky), died in the same year as his father Reb Duvid'l (Rabbi David Twersky of Skwer) in Kiev. During those difficult times many Jews fled Ukraine and came to America.

[edit] Skwer comes to America

Rabbi Yitzchak Twersky, son of Rabbi Mordechai and known as Reb Itzikl Skverer also left Ukraine and came to America. He arrived in America in 1923, and settled in the Boro Park section of Brooklyn and opened his shul on 45th Street between 13th & 14th Avenue.

Unfortunately, Rabbi Yitzchak Twersky died prematurely while his son Rabbi Dovid Twersky was still young. Although there where not many vibrant Hassidic Communities in America in those days, he was raised in a Hassidic atmosphere and guarded against the influences of the American culture in his mother's house. Later when his uncle the Grand Rabbi Yaakov Yosef Twersky of Skver came to America, his mother asked the Skverer Rebbe to guard him and teach him. When Rabbi Dovid grew older he took over the leadership of the shul of his late father Rabbi Yitzchak Twersky, and devoted his whole life to help a fellow Jew. Rabbi Dovid Twersky was known in the Hasidic community for his influence with many in the medical field, and consequently was often sought out for advice. He died in 2001 and was succeeded by his son, Yechiel Michel Twersky.

[edit] Skwer - Boro Park Today

Rabbi Yechiel Michel Twersky, the present Skwerer Rebbe of Boro Park

Today, Skwer - Boro Park has one of the biggest Hassidic institutions in Metropolitan New York, led by Grand Rabbi Yechiel Michel Twersky. Tomar Devorah Girls School, founded by the late rebbe Grand Rabbi Dovid Twersky around 1980, currently has about a thousand girls. They also have a big school for boys Bais Yitzchok named after his father Rabbi Yitzchak Twersky. In addition, there is also a summer camp for the boys and girls where they enjoy a full range of exciting programs in the summer months.