Skver סקווירא

Rooted in Chernobyl

Skver is a branch of the House of Chernobyl. Its founder, Rabbi Yitzchok Twersky — known as Reb Itzikl — was one of the eight sons of Rabbi Mordechai, the Chernobyler Maggid ^[1]. The lineage goes back to Rabbi Menachem Nochum of Chernobyl, the “Me’or Einayim,” a disciple of the Baal Shem Tov ^[1].

Before Reb Itzikl, the rav of Skvyra was Reb Hershele Skverer, a grandson of the Baal Shem Tov, whose daughter Reb Itzikl married. After Reb Hershele’s passing, Reb Itzikl became the rav of Skvyra ^[1]. He left no written works, but in recent years Skverer Chassidim have published his oral teachings, among them “Yalkut Me’orei Ohr” ^[1].

The Generations in Ukraine

After Reb Itzikl, the dynasty was led by his son, Reb Dovidl Twersky (1848–1919). In 1919, because of the Bolshevik Revolution, he moved from Skvyra to Kiev, where he passed away that same year ^[1].

New Square

Reb Dovidl’s grandson, Rabbi Yakov Yosef Twersky (1899–1968), lived in Belz as a young man and adopted certain Belzer customs. He later held court in Calarasi and in Iasi, and after the war in Bucharest ^[1]. In 1948, having survived the war in Romania, he came to America ^[1].

After a few years in Williamsburg he established a community in what was then rural Rockland County and named it New Square; he moved there with a small group of Chassidim in 1956 ^[1].

After his passing in 1968, his son, Rabbi David Twersky, became Rebbe ^[1]. Beyond New Square and its branches in New York City, the dynasty has institutions in Canada, England and Eretz Yisroel; its school in New Square has nearly 5,000 students ^[1]. According to the Hebrew Wikipedia, the community numbers some 3,300 families ^[2].

Other Branches

• Skver–Borough Park — Rabbi Yitzchok Twersky, a grandson of Reb Dovidl, arrived in America in 1923 and opened a shul on 47th Street in Borough Park. Today it is led by Rabbi Yechiel Michel Twersky; its institutions are Beis Yitzchok for boys and Tomer Devorah for girls ^[1].
• Skver–Flatbush — led by Rabbi Yitzchok Twersky, a son of Rabbi Motel Twersky ^[1].

The Machnovka, Shpikov and Faltichan dynasties also branched off from the House of Skver ^[2].