Spotlight

Rabbi Twerski, 90, Psychiatrist, Author

JTA vice president of the Orthodox

Rabbi Dr. Abraham J. Twerski, Union, said Rabbi Twerski would the scion of multiple Hasidic often say that though he had written dynasties, author of more dozens of books, he had really writthan 60 books, and a physician who ten just one book about one subject: became a leading authority on drug self-esteem. treatment, has died. Rabbi Twerski, 90, had been battling COVID-19 in Israel, according to Yeshiva World News. Born in Milwaukee into a family of incomparably dis- STEVE CHRISTO/FAIRFAX MEDIA VIA GETTY IMAGES/JTA That interest was rooted in his psychiatric training, but was also connected to his Hasidic worldview, including the teachings of the Hasidic movement’s founder, the Baal Shem Tov, tinguished rabbinic stock, Rabbi Abraham whose philosophy centered Rabbi Twerski was descendTwerski on authenticity — and, in ed on his father’s side from Rabbi Twerski’s understanding, Rabbi Menachem Nachum Twersky, self-esteem. the founder of the Chernobyl Hasidic “In terms of relating to people, dynasty also known by the name of relationships, understanding the soul his work of Torah commentary, Me’or and the psyche, those are the values Einayim. His mother was the daughter that he grew up with and in medical of the Bobover Hasidic rebbe. school he found that in psychiatry,”

A noted Judaic scholar in his own Weinreb said. right, Rabbi Twerski was among the In 1996, Rabbi Twerski wrote The last of a breed of rabbinic authori- Shame Borne in Silence, becoming one ties who also achieved recognized of the first major Orthodox leaders expertise in secular subjects and to speak publicly about domestic viofrequently presented at academic and lence and other forms of abuse in the professional conferences in the full Orthodox community. Hasidic garb he wore every day. After Rabbi Twerski was a vocal prograduating from medical school in ponent of Alcoholics Anonymous, 1960, he spent two decades as the whose 12 steps he found entirely conclinical director of the psychiatry unit sonant with Jewish teachings, despite at St. Francis Hospital in Pittsburgh. its origins in Christian thought. In 1972, he founded Gateway Rehab He even defended the practice of in Pittsburgh. attending AA meetings in church

Rabbi Twerski wrote more than basements, something many strictly 60 books, most of which were aimed observant Jews are loath to do. at Jewish readers but some of which Within the Orthodox community, were published for a general audi- Rabbi Twerski founded Nefesh, an ence. His books addressed both association for mental health workreligious subjects and self-help topics ers, spanning the range of Orthodox — including happiness, self-esteem, observance and making clear that and marital issues — and some- he saw no contradiction between times both. He was also a fan of the his Orthodox faith and his scientific comic strip “Peanuts” and authored pursuits. two books with its creator, Charles “He was a great believer that there Schultz. was no contradiction,” Weinreb said.

Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb, a “A person could be a person of great psychologist and former executive faith and a rigorous scientist.” Congregation The anonymous B’nai Moshe of internet trolls bomWest Bloomfield barded her family will welcome with hateful and Tanya Gersh to a threatening messages virtual town hall after Anglin published 7 p.m. Sunday, their personal inforMarch 21, to Tanya Gersh mation, including a discuss how photo of her young she and her family dealt son. In a string of posts, with months of abusive Anglin accused Gersh and antisemitic messages from other Jewish residents of the publisher of a neo-Nazi Whitefish of engaging in an website. “extortion racket” against

A U.S. judge ruled that the mother of white nationthe publisher of a neo-Nazi alist Richard Spencer. Gersh website, who organized said she had agreed to help a “troll storm” to target Spencer’s mother sell comTanya Gersh and her mercial property she owns family should have to pay in Whitefish. more than $14 million in Gersh said she received damages and remove all threatening emails, texts posts that encouraged his and voicemails, including readers to contact her. The promises to drive her to suijudge called the harassment cide and “endless references campaign, launched by the to being thrown in the oven, Daily Stormer publisher being gassed. Andrew Anglin “egregious “Sometimes when I and reprehensible.” answered that phone all I

Anglin targeted Gersh, a heard were gunshots,” she Jewish real estate agent in said. Whitefish, Mont., a town Registration for the virtuwhere the prominent white al town hall is free; however, nationalist Richard Spencer registration is required at and his family have some- www.bnaimoshe.org. times lived.

Creative Writers Wanted by Historical Society

The Jewish Historical Society of Michigan is calling all creative writers. The group is soliciting poetry and personal essays (up to 1,500 words), for the “Creative Expressions” sections of the 2021 issue of its journal, Michigan Jewish History — related to the theme of Jewish participation in public life. Public life is defined broadly: philanthropy, activism, political participation, military service, teaching, board membership, writing, tour-guiding and more.

Editor/Curator Joy Gaines-Friedler will help you edit. To submit a piece for consideration (by mid-February), email a Word document to Gaines-Friedler at caboti@yahoo.com. For questions about Michigan Jewish History, email managing editor Tracy Weissman at tweissman@michjewishhistory.org.