Yaakov Yisroel Twersky of Cherkas

Biography

Rabbi Yaakov Yisroel Twersky of Cherkas (Yiddish: טשערקאס; 1795–1876) was a son of Rabbi Mordechai of Chernobyl and the son-in-law of the Mitteler Rebbe. He married Rebbetzin Devorah Leah, daughter of the Mitteler Rebbe (Rabbi Dovber Schneuri).

Life

Rabbi Yaakov Yisroel was born in 1795 (5555) to Rabbi Mordechai of Chernobyl and was a grandson of Rabbi Nachum of Chernobyl.

The Betrothal in the Cradle

While Rabbi Yaakov Yisroel was still an infant, the Alter Rebbe (Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi) visited the home of Rabbi Nachum of Chernobyl. During the visit, the Alter Rebbe recalled the teaching of their shared master, the Maggid of Mezeritch, who had said that Moshiach would descend from either the oldest or the youngest of the Maggid's disciples. The eldest of those disciples was Rabbi Nachum of Chernobyl, and the youngest was the Alter Rebbe himself. The Alter Rebbe proposed to Rabbi Nachum: "Why should we leave this in doubt — let us arrange a match between our families." He then went over to the cradles of the grandchildren in Rabbi Nachum's home and examined each child's head. When he reached the infant Yaakov Yisroel, the Alter Rebbe declared that this boy would be destined as a groom for his granddaughter Devorah Leah, daughter of the Mitteler Rebbe.

Marriage

At the age of sixteen, Rabbi Yaakov Yisroel married Rebbetzin Devorah Leah. The wedding took place in Liadi in the presence of the Alter Rebbe, on the night before the sixth of Shevat, the Shabbos of Parshas Bo (January 1811 / 5 Shevat 5571). At the wedding, the Alter Rebbe delivered a maamar (a formal Chassidic discourse) beginning with the verse "Shir Hashirim asher l'Shlomo" — the opening words of the Song of Songs.

Years in Liadi

After his marriage, Rabbi Yaakov Yisroel remained in Liadi, where he devoted himself to Torah study and avodah — the inner spiritual service of G-d. He studied in regular chavrusa (paired Torah study) together with his brother-in-law the Tzemach Tzedek (Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneersohn), under the direct guidance of the Alter Rebbe.

The Rebbe (Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson) once recounted that the two young men would learn together in an attic room. On one occasion, they decided to fast in hopes of meriting a giluy Eliyahu — a revelation of the prophet Elijah, a sign of spiritual attainment in Kabbalistic tradition. At some point a third person joined their endeavor, also fasting and reciting Tikkun Chatzos (the midnight lamentation for the destruction of the Temple). After some time, this man came to complain that despite all his efforts, he had not merited a giluy Eliyahu. Upon hearing this, Rabbi Yaakov Yisroel and the Tzemach Tzedek went up to the attic and, while the man was reciting Tikkun Chatzos, they poured water on him and called out: "Tahor, tahor, tahor!" — "Pure, pure, pure!" — the traditional cry of spiritual purification, gently reminding him that true avodah is not measured by mystical experiences.

In Lubavitch and Hornosteipel

After the Napoleonic Wars, Rabbi Yaakov Yisroel settled in Lubavitch and lived there for a number of years. He subsequently became maggid meisharim — a preacher and spiritual guide — in the town of Hornosteipel.

On Shabbos Parshas Re'eh, 5596 (1836), the wedding of his daughter Rebbetzin Chana to Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak, son of the Tzemach Tzedek, was celebrated in Hornosteipel. The wedding was attended by the mechutanim (in-laws): the Tzemach Tzedek, Rabbi Yaakov Yisroel himself, and Rabbi Mordechai of Chernobyl.

In 1861 (5621), after his son-in-law Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak was appointed rabbi of Ovruch, Rabbi Yaakov Yisroel relocated to the town of Cherkas, by which name he became widely known. He placed his grandson Rabbi Mordechai Dov — named for both Rabbi Mordechai of Chernobyl and the Mitteler Rebbe — on the rabbinical seat in Hornosteipel. Already in his grandfather's lifetime, Rabbi Mordechai Dov served as Rebbe to thousands of Chassidim.

The Final Years and Passing

A celebrated story is told of Rabbi Yaakov Yisroel's final years. He once summoned his grandson Rabbi Mordechai Dov to Cherkas. When the grandson arrived, his grandfather brought him into the room of Rebbetzin Devorah Leah and said:

I have a dispute with your grandmother, and we have both agreed that you shall adjudicate it, and whatever you rule shall stand. The dispute is this: Your grandmother says that she must pass away before me, because if she were to remain a widow, the Chassidim would stop coming, she would be left alone, and she could not adapt to a life of solitude. I, on the other hand, say that I should go first, because if I were to remain a widower — half a person — I would not be able to manage.

He then said to his grandson: "Now you shall rule — we trust you."

Rabbi Mordechai Dov replied:

In truth, your grandmother is correct — her life as a widow would be harder. But since your opinion is otherwise, I do not wish to rule against you. Therefore, my ruling is this: when your time comes to depart from this world, may both of you depart in the same year.

And so it came to pass. On 1 Sivan 5636 (1876), Rebbetzin Devorah Leah, daughter of the Mitteler Rebbe, passed away. Two and a half months later, on 13 Elul 5636 (1876), her husband Rabbi Yaakov Yisroel of Cherkas followed her in death.

Discovery of His Synagogue

In the summer of 5783 (2023), the synagogue of Rabbi Yaakov Yisroel Twersky in the city of Cherkasy, Ukraine, was rediscovered.

Family

Rabbi Yaakov Yisroel and Rebbetzin Devorah Leah had several sons, but all of them passed away in childhood. Their daughters were:

• Rebbetzin Chana — wife of Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak of Ovruch; mother-in-law of the Rebbe Rashab (Rabbi Shalom Dovber Schneersohn).
• Rebbetzin Sara Freida — married Rabbi Menachem Nachum, son of the Mitteler Rebbe; mother of Rabbi Mordechai Dov of Tomashpol.
• Rebbetzin Starna Rochel — mother of Rabbi Mordechai Dov of Hornosteipel.
• Brachah
• Hishe