Mordechai of Chernobyl

Rabbi Mordechai of Chernobyl (known as the Maggid of Chernobyl) was born to Rabbi Menachem Nachum of Chernobyl in 1770 and passed away on the 20th of Iyar 1837. He was buried in Ignatovka (now Antevka) near Kiev.

He would travel between towns and received positions as Maggid in many of them. Unlike his father, he lived in great wealth and traveled in a carriage drawn by many horses.

His father-in-law was Rabbi David Leikes, a talmid of the Baal Shem Tov.

Life History

Rabbi Mordechai Twersky was the son of Rabbi Menachem Nachum Twersky, who was among the talmidim of the Baal Shem Tov and the Maggid of Mezritch and author of "Meor Einayim."

He was married to Chaya Sarah, daughter of Rabbi Aharon of Karlin. After her passing, he married Feiga, daughter of Rabbi David Leikes, a talmid of the Baal Shem Tov. From his first wife, he had three sons and a daughter, and from his second wife, five sons and two daughters. His eight sons served as Rebbes throughout Ukraine after his passing and were prominent in spreading Chassidus during that period.

Rabbi Mordechai had many chassidim, and many towns appointed him as their Maggid Meisharim. Among his talmidim were Rabbi Yisroel Dov of Vilednik and Rabbi Avraham Dov of Avritch. His Torah teachings were published in the sefer Likutei Torah which received haskamos from Chassidic leaders. In 2001, it was reprinted in a corrected edition with indexes under the name "Likutei Torah HaShalem."

His brother-in-law, the Rebbe of Ruzhin, named one of his sons (Rabbi Mordechai Feivish of Husiatyn) after him while Rabbi Mordechai of Chernobyl was still alive, contrary to Ashkenazi Jewish tradition of not naming children after living people. When asked about this, he answered, "Our uncle from Chernobyl has been above this world for several years already, as if he's not in this world."

The Shidduch with the Mitteler Rebbe

One of the elder chassidim would speak of him with tremendous reverence, relating that the Alter Rebbe said about him: "Er iz a eidele yungerman" (he is a refined young man).

Reb Yitzchak Horowitz related that the Maggid of Mezritch once told his talmidim that Moshiach would come either from the descendants of his eldest talmid (Rabbi Menachem Nachum of Chernobyl) or from his youngest talmid (the Alter Rebbe). Subsequently, a shidduch was arranged when Rabbi Yaakov Yisroel of Cherkas, grandson of Rabbi Mordechai, married the daughter of the Mitteler Rebbe, son of the Alter Rebbe.

From this union descends part of the Chabad dynasty: 1. Rabbi Yaakov Yisroel and Rebbetzin Devorah Leah. 2. Rebbetzin Chana who married Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn (son of the Tzemach Tzedek). 3. Their daughter who married the Rebbe Rashab and was the mother of the Frierdiker Rebbe.

His Seforim

Rabbi Mordechai authored the sefer "Likutei Torah" containing letters and chiddushim following the order of the parshios and moadim.

His Children

He left behind eight sons and three daughters (the first three sons and daughter Malka were from his first wife, who was the daughter of Rabbi Aharon HaGadol of Karlin, while the last five sons and final daughter were from his wife who was the daughter of Rabbi David Leikes, talmid of the Baal Shem Tov):

1. Rabbi Aharon of Chernobyl
2. Rabbi Moshe of Korostshov, born in 1789 and passed away on 18th of Teves 1866
3. Rabbi Yaakov Yisroel of Cherkas (previously lived in Hornosteipel), born in 1794 and passed away on 13th of Elul 1876. One of his great-grandchildren (descendant of Rabbi Menachem Nachum, son of the Mitteler Rebbe) previously served as the Rebbe of Hornosteipel.
4. Rabbi Menachem Nachum of Makarov, born around 1801 and passed away on 7th of Tishrei 1851. He was the first of the brothers to pass away. Today his great-grandson serves as the Makarover Rebbe in Boro Park.
5. Rabbi Avraham of Trisk, born in 1806 and passed away on 2nd of Tammuz 1889. Today several of his grandchildren serve as Trisker Rebbes.
6. Rabbi Dovid of Tolna, born in 1808 and passed away on 10th of Iyar 1882. Today several of his grandchildren serve as Tolner Rebbes.
7. Rabbi Yitzchak of Skvira, born in 1812 and passed away on 17th of Nissan 1885. Today several of his grandchildren serve as Skverer Rebbes.
8. The youngest brother was Rabbi Yochanan of Rachmistrivka. Born in 1816 and was the last of the brothers to pass away, on 4th of Nissan 1895. Two of his great-grandchildren currently serve as Rebbes of this court.
9. Malka, wife of Rabbi Yechiel Michel of Drohobych, grandson of Rabbi Boruch of Mezhibuzh.
10. Chana Chaya, wife of Rabbi Dovid, grandson of Rabbi Dovid Leikes. Born in 1810 and passed away in 1893.
11. Sheindel, married Rabbi Dov Ber of Liova, and they had no children. Born in 1821 and passed away in 1901 in the city of Tolna.