Reb Chai Yitzchok Twersky zy"a, Rachmastrivka Rebbe of Boro Park
The Rachmastrivka Rebbe of Boro Park, Reb Chai Yitzchok Twersky zy"a
דער רחמסטריווקער רבי פון בארא פארק, רבי חי יצחק טווערסקי זי״ע
Upcoming yahrzeit: 1 September 2027 (5787)
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Reb Chai Yitzchok Twersky zy"a was the Rachmastrivka Rebbe of Boro Park (also written Rachmistrivka). He was born in Yerushalayim in 1930, according to the COLlive notice of his histalkus; a Boro Park 24 account gives 1931. He was a son of the Rachmastrivka Rebbe, Rav Yochanan Twersky zy"a (niftar 20 Kislev 5742 / 1982), and Rebbetzin Esther Rivka, a daughter of Rav Nachman Yosef Wilhelm. The name Chai was added when he was a child and ill. In his youth he learned at Yeshivas Etz Chaim under Rav Isser Zalman Meltzer zt"l, and in the Belzer yeshiva of Rav Aharon Rokeach zy"a.
In 1954 he married Rebbetzin Miriam, a daughter of the Skverer Rebbe, Reb Yaakov Yosef Twersky zy"a. They lived in Williamsburg and then in New Square. After his father's histalkus in 1982, he became the Rachmastrivka Rebbe in America, and his brother Rav Yisrael Mordechai became Rebbe in Eretz Yisrael. In Boro Park he bought an existing shul from the Dejer Rebbe, rather than open a new one. He was known for humility, Torah knowledge, and ma'or panim, and he stayed out of politics. People of all backgrounds came to him for chizuk and advice.
He was niftar on Wednesday, 29 Menachem Av 5783 (16 August 2023), at the age of 92. The levayah was in Boro Park, with a short levayah in Monsey, and he was laid to rest in the Rachmastrivka chelkah of Nehar Shalom (Har Shalom) cemetery in Airmont, New York, in the Monsey area. The yahrzeit is 29 Av. His son, Rav Dovid Moshe, succeeded him in Boro Park. Your kvittel will be brought to his kever.
Historical background
Rachmastrivka is a branch of the Chernobyl dynasty, founded by Rav Yochanan Twersky (1816–1895), the youngest son of Rav Mordechai of Chernobyl. After Rav Yochanan Twersky zy"a, the father of this Rebbe, was niftar in 5742 (1982), the court in America and the court in Eretz Yisrael were led separately: this Rebbe in Boro Park, and his brother Rav Yisrael Mordechai in Eretz Yisrael.
Before & after
Who came before
- His father, Rav Yochanan Twersky zy"a, the Rachmastrivka Rebbe — He was niftar on 20 Kislev 5742 / 1982. After his histalkus, this Rebbe led the court in America.
- Rav Yochanan Twersky of Rachmastrivka (1816–1895) — The founder of Rachmastrivka, youngest son of Rav Mordechai of Chernobyl.
Who came after
- Rav Dovid Moshe, Rachmastrivka Rebbe of Boro Park — His son, who succeeded him in Boro Park.
In his dor
- Rav Yisrael Mordechai Twersky, Rachmastrivka Rebbe in Eretz Yisrael — His brother, who became Rebbe in Eretz Yisrael after their father's histalkus.
- The Skverer Rebbe, Reb Yaakov Yosef Twersky zy"a — His father-in-law. He married Rebbetzin Miriam, a daughter of this Rebbe, in 1954.
Sources
The facts on this page come from the sources listed here. Where the sources are not one shittah, it is written in the text.
- COLlive, 16 August 2023 / 29 Av 5783: “Rachmastrivka Rebbe of Boro Park, 92, OBM” — Harav Chai Yitzchok Twersky; born 1930 in Yerushalayim to Rav Yochanan Twersky and Rebbetzin Esther Rivka (Wilhelm); learned at Yeshivas Etz Chaim under Rav Isser Zalman Meltzer and in the Belzer yeshiva of Rav Aharon Rokeach; married a daughter of the Skverer Rebbe, Rav Yaakov Yosef Twersky; became Rebbe in America after 20 Kislev 5742 / 1982, while his brother Rav Yisrael Mordechai became Rebbe in Eretz Yisrael; bought an existing shul in Boro Park from the Dejer Rebbe; Amaros Tehoros al haTorah (five volumes) and two volumes on the moadim
- JewishTidbits: drone footage of the Rachmistrivka Rebbe levayah, Boro Park and Airmont
- Boro Park 24, 16 August 2023: “A Great Light is Dimmed: The Rachmastrivka Rebbe, zt”l” — a biographical notice; this account gives the birth year as 1931 in Yerushalayim
- Boro Park 24, 16 August 2023: “LIVE UPDATES: Levaye of the Rachmastrivka Rebbe, zt”l” — levayah in Boro Park, then Monsey; kevurah at Har Shalom in the Monsey area; his son Harav Dovid Moshe named as successor in Boro Park
- Hebcal date converter (Hebrew–Gregorian yahrzeit dates, including 5787)
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