Devorah Leah Twersky

Mrs. Devorah Leah Twersky was a daughter of the Mitteler Rebbe and the wife of Rabbi Yaakov Yisroel of Cherkassy.

Her Marriage

The story of the match between the Rebbetzin and Rabbi Yaakov Yisroel is told as follows: When the Alter Rebbe once visited the home of the holy Rabbi Nachum of Chernobyl, he reminded Rabbi Nachum of a teaching their master and teacher, the Maggid of Mezeritch, had said — that Moshiach would descend from either the oldest or the youngest of the Maggid's disciples.

The oldest among the Maggid's disciples was Rabbi Nachum of Chernobyl, and the youngest was the Alter Rebbe. The Alter Rebbe said to Rabbi Nachum: "Why should we leave this in doubt? Let us arrange a match between our families." The Alter Rebbe then approached the cradles of the grandchildren who were in Rabbi Nachum's home and felt each child's head. When he felt the head of the grandson Yaakov Yisroel, the Alter Rebbe declared that this was the grandchild he intended as a groom for his granddaughter Devorah Leah, daughter of the Mitteler Rebbe. Some explain the examination of the children's heads by noting that the kings of the Davidic dynasty were said to have a distinctive shape of head that allowed them to wear a crown.

The wedding of Rabbi Yaakov Yisroel of Cherkassy and Rebbetzin Devorah Leah took place in the presence of the Alter Rebbe, who delivered a maamar (Chassidic discourse) on that occasion beginning with the words Shir HaShirim Asher LiShlomo ("The Song of Songs of Solomon").

After the wedding, Rabbi Yaakov Yisroel remained in the town of Liadi, where he devoted himself to Torah study and divine service alongside his brother-in-law the Tzemach Tzedek. The two would study together regularly in chavrusa (paired Torah study), together with the Alter Rebbe.

Her Passing

On the 1st of Sivan, 5636 (June 1876), Rebbetzin Devorah Leah passed away.

It is related that the holy Rabbi Yaakov Yisroel of Cherkassy once invited his grandson to come to his home. When Rabbi Mordechai Dov of Hornosteipel arrived in his grandfather's town of Cherkassy, his grandfather asked him to enter together with him into the room of his grandmother, the righteous Rebbetzin Devorah Leah. Rabbi Yaakov Yisroel then said to him:

"I have a dispute with Grandmother, and we have both agreed to bring the matter before you, and whatever you decide shall stand. The dispute is this: Grandmother says that she must pass from this world before me — for if she remains a widow, the chassidim will not come, and she will be left alone, and she cannot bear the thought of a solitary life. I, however, say that I must go first — for if I am left a widower, half a person, I will not be able to manage. Now you must decide — we rely on your judgment."

His grandson Rabbi Mordechai Dov of Hornosteipel replied:

"In truth, Grandmother is right — her life as a widow would be harder. But since Grandfather feels otherwise, I do not wish to go against Grandfather's view. My ruling therefore is that when the time of your passing comes, you shall both pass in the same year."

And so it was. On the 1st of Sivan, 5636 (1876), the righteous Rebbetzin Devorah Leah, daughter of the Mitteler Rebbe, passed away — and on the 13th of Elul, 5636, her husband, the holy Rabbi Yaakov Yisroel of Cherkassy, followed her.

Further Reading

• "The Historic Wedding That Began at the Cradles," Beis Moshiach weekly, 9 Shevat 5781, p. 52.