Mordechai Twersky

Mordechai Twersky (c. 1770–1837), known as Motele, was a Ukrainian rabbi. He was the son of Rabbi Menachem Nachum Twersky of Chernobyl and the second rebbe of the Chernobyl Hasidic dynasty. The family surname is Russian for "native of Tver", although Hasidic tradition connects it with the city of Tiberias. Unlike his father, who had lived frugally, he was known for requisitioning wealth from his followers. Seven of his eight sons were rebbes, from whom several branches of Hasidism emerged, including Skver, Chernobyl and Rachmastrivka. Biography Twersky was born in Chernobyl to Sarah and Rabbi Menachem Nachum of Chernobyl, a disciple of the Baal Shem Tov and the Maggid of Mezeritch and author of the book Me'or Einayim. Twersky married Chaya Sara the daughter of Rabbi Aharon of Karlin; after her death he married Faiga the daughter of Rabbi Dovid Leykes who was a student of the Baal Shem Tov.