Wednesday, September 14, 2011
News Clippings about Reb Mottel Twerski
Three newspaper tidbits: Reb Mottel as a child, at his bar-mitzvah and at his engagement. Click on any image to enlarge.
From the collection of Rav Bentzion Twerski, shlit"a, of Milwaukee.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Yahrtzeit: HaRav Mordechai Dov Ber Twerski (Elul 15)
The following piece originally appeared in Turning Pages (pg. 197-198):
The Big Blizzard and The World Without Motty
Written by the Rebbe, Harav Michel Twerski, shlit"a
There is something awe-inspiring in a blizzard. I was reminded of its magnitude during this past winter's most major snowstorm as I watched the interplay of wind and snow from the comfort of my living room window.
A Time For Arrogance (by Rav Mottel Twerski, ztz"l)
The Cherkasser on Erev Rosh Hashanah
Once the Rebbe Reb Yaakov Yisroel of Cherkass came to Mincha on Erev Rosh Hashanah very late. Seeing the surprise on the faces of those assembled to daven, he explained, "My brothers (referring to his seven brothers, the tzadikim of Chernobyl, Koristchov, Tolna, Trisk, Mekarev, Skver and Rachmistrivka) and I do not come in to Mincha on Erev Rosh Hashanah until we have rectified the neshama of every Jew."
(See Yalkut Me'orei Ohr, pg. 44, in the name of the chosid Reb Yitzchok Zakan, z"l, who heard it from his uncle who was present at the time.)
(See Yalkut Me'orei Ohr, pg. 44, in the name of the chosid Reb Yitzchok Zakan, z"l, who heard it from his uncle who was present at the time.)
Let’s Get It Right This Year – Not "New", But "Nu"
The Torah, assuredly, teaches us to treasure the “old.” We are exhorted to respect and care for elderly parents, seek counsel of the elders, and treat reverently the faded parchment of our once usable torah scrolls. Our ancient Torah practices, rites and rituals, are never to be bartered, diluted, compromised or sacrificed in deference to anything new, no matter how promising. The “new” year consequently is most decisively not an invitation to jettison the familiar and the venerable, or to discredit the old. As a matter of fact, “Rosh Hashanah” doesn’t even mean “New” year! Rather, it translates as the “head”-of-the-year.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Yahrtzeit: Rebbe Yaakov Yisroel of Cherkass (Elul 13)
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| The New Matzeiva for the Cherkasser, zy"a |
Believe it or not, I did not have time to translate or write anything original for the Cherkasser's yahrtzeit. Quickly, Rebbe Yaakov Yisroel of Cherkass was the third of eight sons of the Chernobyler Maggid, Reb Mordechai, who was the son of the Maor Einayim, Reb Nochum Chernobyler. His grandson was the Rebbe Reb Motele of Hornosteipel, and thereby the originator of the Hornosteipeler dynasty we all know and love. Here are a few stories that I have heard from the Rebbe, shlit"a, but never had the chance to commit to writing. They are all borrowed from Heichal Hanegina.
Are We Willing To Answer Our Prayers?
By the Rebbe Harav Hatzadik Rav Yaakov Yisroel Twerski, zt"l
No matter how old one may be, no matter how many New Years one has already experienced, the coming of Rosh Hashanah is always an exciting and hope-filled event. We look forward to a year in which illness will yield to good health, sadness to happiness, misfortune to mazel and success, and the hope that a general improvement will prevail in all of the hardships which afflict mankind. To those who are sustained by a strong and abiding faith, this is not a vain hope. The all-powerful and bountiful hand of G-d can, within a twinkling, transform our life into one that is filled with every desired blessing and good fortune. It is important, however, that we remember that while we shall pray and ask the Almighty’s blessing for the coming year, a great many of our most painful problems can be removed by our own intervention and efforts. For so much of our unhappiness is not outside of us, but rather is brought about by our own distorted hopes, and our exaggerated demands on life. Our Sages, for example, suggest this, when they state “He is wealthy who is content with his portion in life.” Let us hope that G-d shall fill this coming year with the fulfillment of our most cherished dreams. And let us also hope that we will find the spiritual strength to look inwardly, so that we may bless our own lives with contentment and peace of mind.
(Written by the Rebbe, Harav Michel Twerski, shlit”a)
Treasure
This past week's d'var Torah from Rabbi Sender Haber mentioned a precious exchange he had with the Rebbe, shlit"a. His own application is understandably very Rebbe-esque.
About ten years ago I called Reb Michel Twerski of Milwaukee to tell him that I was engaged. His reaction was, unfortunately, unique.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Enlisting Hashem
Okay. So, we are deep into Elul. It can be overwhelming -- life-altering changes and stuff. Just trying to decide what particularly we want to change is challenging enough. Then we need to worry about making a plan, carrying it out, sticking to it when we are spent, picking ourselves up when we fall, and on and on. We are all surely familiar with that unwelcome voice inside our heads that won't stop telling us, "You can't".
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Minhagim: The Month of Elul
1) Many have the custom to recite the order of Yom Kippur Katan on Erev Rosh Chodesh. There are those who don't normally say it except on Erev Rosh Chodesh Nisan and/or Elul. The minhag of the Rebbe is not to say it even then.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Daven That Others Do Teshuvah
I came across a wonderful mareh makom quoted in Nitei Gavriel. There he brings from the Sefer Tehilah L'Dovid who says in the name of the Arizal that throughout the month of Elul, one should have kavanah in the beracha of Hashiveinu and daven for those who strayed from Hashem and those who were "taken captive as children" and grew up not knowing about the Torah. "For these days are propitious to bring them back to teshuvah and Hashem's right hand is open to accept those who return."
How convenient is it that in the Radviller siddur there is a little addition to daven for exactly that. In the berachah of Hashiveinu in Shemoneh Esrei, before one concludes with "Baruch Atah" etc., one may add the following: "May it be your will Hashem, my G-d and the G-d of my fathers, that you carve out an opening beneath the Throne of Your Glory to bring back all of the sinners of Israel with complete teshuvah, and amongst them myself (ploni ben plonis) (and/or ploni ben plonis), for Your right hand, Hashem, is open to receive returners."
The note indicates (in the name of the Turei Zahav) that such additional prayers should not be said on a constant basis as a part of Shemoneh Esrei because while one is permitted to always add there own personal prayers, we don't want to add a specific, set prayer that Chazal did not include.
One who needs something, it is said by Chazal, should pray for someone else who requires the same thing. This is considered a very worthy and effective method of both having his own prayers answered, as well as helping another. During these days of Elul we all need help doing teshuvah.
While it is surely in our own hands and our own responsibility to return to Hashem, we desperately need Divine assistance in order that our teshuvah be meaningful and effective. All the more so those who have no idea that they should be doing teshuvah, and those whose hearts have become closed. In more than one way, davening for them is davening for ourselves.
How convenient is it that in the Radviller siddur there is a little addition to daven for exactly that. In the berachah of Hashiveinu in Shemoneh Esrei, before one concludes with "Baruch Atah" etc., one may add the following: "May it be your will Hashem, my G-d and the G-d of my fathers, that you carve out an opening beneath the Throne of Your Glory to bring back all of the sinners of Israel with complete teshuvah, and amongst them myself (ploni ben plonis) (and/or ploni ben plonis), for Your right hand, Hashem, is open to receive returners."
The note indicates (in the name of the Turei Zahav) that such additional prayers should not be said on a constant basis as a part of Shemoneh Esrei because while one is permitted to always add there own personal prayers, we don't want to add a specific, set prayer that Chazal did not include.
One who needs something, it is said by Chazal, should pray for someone else who requires the same thing. This is considered a very worthy and effective method of both having his own prayers answered, as well as helping another. During these days of Elul we all need help doing teshuvah.
While it is surely in our own hands and our own responsibility to return to Hashem, we desperately need Divine assistance in order that our teshuvah be meaningful and effective. All the more so those who have no idea that they should be doing teshuvah, and those whose hearts have become closed. In more than one way, davening for them is davening for ourselves.
