Yaakov Yisroel Twersky of Cherkas

Rabbi Yaakov Yisroel Twersky of Cherkas (in Yiddish: Tsherkas) (1795 - 13 Elul 1876) was the son of Rabbi Mordechai of Chernobyl and was married to the daughter of the Mitteler Rebbe, Rebbetzin Devorah Leah.

Life History

Born in 1795 to his father Rabbi Mordechai of Chernobyl, grandson of Rabbi Nachum of Chernobyl.

When he was an infant in the cradle, the Alter Rebbe visited the home of his grandfather Rabbi Nachum of Chernobyl. The Alter Rebbe reminded R' Nachum of the saying of their teacher the Maggid of Mezritch who said: that Moshiach would be a descendant of either the oldest or youngest of his students. The eldest among the Maggid's students was Rabbi Nachum of Chernobyl, and the youngest was the Alter Rebbe. The Alter Rebbe said to R' Nachum, "Why should we leave it to chance, let us make a shidduch between us..." During this, the Alter Rebbe approached the cradles of the grandchildren in R' Nachum's house and felt their heads. When he felt the head of grandson Yaakov Yisroel, the Alter Rebbe said that this grandson he designates as a chosson for his granddaughter Devorah Leah, daughter of the Mitteler Rebbe.

At age 16, the wedding of Rabbi Yaakov Yisroel of Cherkas and Rebbetzin Devorah Leah took place in the presence of the Alter Rebbe in Liadi on Thursday night of Parshas Bo, 5 Shevat 1811, where he delivered a Chassidic discourse beginning with "Shir HaShirim Asher L'Shlomo."

After his wedding, R' Yaakov Yisroel remained in the town of Liadi, where he sat and diligently studied Torah together with his brother-in-law the Tzemach Tzedek, and the two would learn regularly in chavrusa together with the Alter Rebbe. The Rebbe related that both were learning together in the attic. Once they decided to fast in order to merit a revelation of Eliyahu. One day, a man came to them who also wanted to merit a revelation of Eliyahu. The man also began to fast and say Tikkun Chatzos. After some time, he complained to them that despite his fasts, he did not merit a revelation of Eliyahu.

When they heard this, they went up to the attic while he was saying Tikkun Chatzos, poured water on him and began to shout: "Tahor, Tahor, Tahor..."

The grandson of Rabbi Yaakov Yisroel of Cherkas and Rebbetzin Devorah Leah was Rabbi Mordechai Dov of Hornosteipel, who even during his grandfather's lifetime was an Admor to thousands of chassidim.

After the Napoleonic Wars, he settled in Lubavitch and lived there for several years. Later he was accepted as a Maggid Meisharim in the city of Hornosteipel. On Shabbos Parshas Re'eh 1836, his daughter Rebbetzin Chana's wedding to Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak, son of the Tzemach Tzedek, was celebrated there with the participation of the mechutanim - the Tzemach Tzedek, Rabbi Yaakov Yisroel, and Rabbi Mordechai of Chernobyl.

In 1861 (after his son-in-law Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak was accepted as rabbi in the city of Ovruch), he moved to the city of Cherkas and became known as Rabbi Yaakov Yisroel of Cherkas (while Rabbi Mordechai Dov, who was named after R' Mordechai of Chernobyl and the Mitteler Rebbe, was appointed to his position in Hornosteipel).

On 13 Elul 1876, Rabbi Yaakov Yisroel of Cherkas passed away.

It is told that once Rabbi Yaakov Yisroel of Cherkas invited his grandson to come to his house. When Rabbi Mordechai Dov Twersky (Hornosteipel) came to his grandfather's town of Cherkas, his grandfather asked him to enter with him into the room of his grandmother, the righteous Rebbetzin Devorah Leah, and said to him: "I have a dispute with grandmother, and we both decided to bring the matter before you and whatever you decide will be established. This is the dispute: Grandmother says she needs to pass away before me, because if she remains a widow and chassidim won't come, she will remain lonely and she cannot adapt to a life of solitude. While I say that I need to pass away first, because if I remain a widower, half a body, I won't be able to manage."

"And now," said Rabbi Yaakov Yisroel of Cherkas to his grandson, "you decide, we rely on you."

The grandson Rabbi Mordechai Dov of Hornosteipel replied to his grandfather: "In essence, grandmother is right, her life as a widow would be more difficult. But since grandfather's opinion is different, I don't want to go against grandfather's opinion. Therefore, my opinion is that when the time of your passing comes, both of you should pass away in the same year..."

And so it was - on 1 Sivan 1876, the righteous Rebbetzin Devorah Leah, daughter of the Mitteler Rebbe passed away, and after two and a half months, on 13 Elul 1876, her husband Rabbi Yaakov Yisroel of Cherkas passed away.

In the month of Menachem Av 2023, Rabbi Yaakov Yisroel Twersky's synagogue was discovered in the city of Cherkas, Ukraine.

Family

They had sons, but all passed away while young.

His Daughters:

• Rebbetzin Chana - Wife of the Rayatz of Ovruch, father-in-law of the Rebbe Rashab
• Rebbetzin Sarah Freidel
• Rebbetzin Sterna Rachel
• Bracha
• Chisha

Further Reading

• The Historic Wedding that Began in the Infants' Cradle, Beis Moshiach Weekly 9 Shevat 5781 page 52