By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for the Five Towns Jewish Times
A newly revised and expanded Sefer has just been published of the Torah of Rav Shloime Twerski zt”l of Denver, Colorado. The sefer is called “Malchus Shlomo” and it was compiled by Rav Yaakov Yisroel Nissan, a grandson of Rav Twerski zt”l.
The sefer contains chiddushei Torah, Moadim, chiddushim on Shulchan Aruch, letters and Minhagim and remarkable vignettes. The Chiddushim are both his own and those that he had retained from generations of his illustrious ancestors.
Rav Ben Tzion Chaim Shloime Meshulam Zusia Twerski was a remarkably unique Chasidish Rav, heir to the Hornosteipel Chassidish dynasty.
Rav Twerski was born in Cracow, and raised in Milwaukee, after his father Rabbi Yaakov Yisroel Twerski zt”l had established his chassidus there. Rav Shloime arrived in Denver in 1944, and almost immediately began one of the nation’s first Teshuvah movements. He was the Rav of the Zera Avrohom shul. He started this movement long before there was even a Teshuvah movement.
He succeeded remarkably.
Many Denver families are now observant because of him. Others had eventually moved away. All owe him a remarkable debt of gratitude.
Rav Twerski inspired everyone he met. He inspired them with the idea of self-growth and self improvement. He would often relay an interpretation of his father regarding the verse, “Aileh toldos Noach. Noach..” Noach had made himself into a Tzaddik. He worked on himself – ever improving and rising in spirituality. The tolados of Noach, the handiwork of Noach – was Noach! (page 5).
The entire sefer is filled with pearls of Torah and inspiration – life-altering thoughts.
Rav Twerski emphasized that the last days of Elul were particularly conducive to Teshuvah. How so? Since Rosh haShana did not yet come, all improvements, all rises in ruchniyus are solely on account of one’s own efforts. And one’s own efforts have the most meaning (page 35).
Rav Twerski used to say that a Jewish home must be much more than a mere hotel room, where one eats and sleeps. No, it must be a Beis Medrash and a place where Jewish values are transmitted over to one’s children through love and through what the children see. That is why the Torah states the transmission of Torah is through children “v’shinantam levanecha” (Dvarim 6:7) rather than through melamdim. The essential values must be transmitted in the home – afterward melamdim and Rebbeim can assist (page 52).
Rav Shloime zt”l would say that people have difficulty setting aside their worries in Davening out of fear that they will be unable to find a solution to the problem if they set it aside even momentarily. The truth, however, is quite the opposite. The constant worry weakens the person and prevents him from finding the solutions. During prayer, everything should be set aside except for earnest prayer.
Rav Twerski’s brilliance was captivating. Somehow, people felt, he was able to know everything about you with his piercing eyes, but benevolent heart.
Denver’s day school had just launched at the time and the Twerskis got involved with the parent body, and soon the entire community.
Rav Twerski’s open house served to be mekarev many. He had an oven in his back yard in which to bake Matzos. Everyone came to look, to see, and obtained Matzos. Rav Twerski took an active role in the shechita of Denver. He improved it and expanded it. He recruited and further trained shochtim to the point that the Shechita was one of the largest on the west coast.
Rav Twerski had a remarkable penchant for knowledge, not just Torah knowledge but even physics. Denver had an award-winning Jewish physics teacher who had received a presidential medal, Morris (Moshe) Hoffman. Rav Twerski arranged for private tutoring in advanced physics from Reb Moshe Hoffman. That physics teacher was my grandfather.
Throughout the forties, fifties and sixties, there were three women in Denver who wore a sheitel. Rebbitzen Twersky and two of the shochtim’s wives.
After the Zera Abraham Shul, Rav Twerski opened up the Torah Research Institute. Unfortunately, he was stricken with a terrible Machala and passed away in the prime of his life.
Previously, his legacy was his family – most of whome entered into the field of chinuch and inspired tens of thousands themselves. With the publication of this sefer, thousands more can be exposed to his remarkably inspiring Torah thoughts. The Sefer was compiled by Rabbi Yaakov Nissan, one of Rav Yisroel Belsky’s leading talmidim in Yeshiva Torah V’Daas.
The sefer is available at Beigeleisen’s books and other fine Seforim stores.
The author can be reached at [email protected]
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One Response
Beautiful job !
Extremely well done!
The man was a giant among giants!
The author does not include what his relationship is to the קדושת ציון and to the הייליגער באבובער רב זכרונם צדיקים וקדושים לברכה
Curious why not!