A letter from the USA:We woke up last Tuesday to the news of devastating tragedy in Har Nof, a massacre in every sense of the word.Our family is personally numb and shocked at this barbaric inhumane tragedy.
My brother Chesky lost his Rebbe Muvhak (closest teacher), his chavrusa (learning partner), his mentor and Shadchan (matchmaker), Rabbi Moshe Twersky Hy"d, of Yeshivat Toras Moshe, Jerusalem.I write this with a heavy heart wondering how my brother will go on. It is as though he lived in Israel because he had the great privilege to learn with Rabbi Moshe Twersky as his learning partner every day for the last 15 years.
For of those of you that don't know, Rabbi Twersky was the grandson of the late Torah giant Rabbi Joseph Dov Soloveitchik and the son-in-law of the late Torah sage, Rabbi Abba Berman.He came from illustrious roots, but on his own, Rabbi Twersky was a tremendous person.
How do I know? Because he made an effort to know his chavrusas' family, so we knew him well.I met him on many occasions at the Toras Moshe simchat beit hashoeva (celebrations on the Intermediate Days of Sukkot).
He flew in to the USA to be mesader kiddushin (officiate) at my brother's wedding.He was my brother's world, the go to person for complex questions and regular mundane life stuff. He exemplified a warm Rebbe and a loving fatherliness, while at the same time helping his students develop to their fullest potential.
People would ask my brother Chesky how he manages in Israel away from us for all these years, but with a broad smile full of pride, the answer was always, "When you get to learn with Rav Moshe Twersky each day, you don't run back to America" We all knew it!He guided my brother every step of the way.He was the sandek (held the baby) at my nephews bris and just in general the moreh derech (guide) in my brother and sister-in-law's life. Everyone should have a Rebbe of that kind.
Each of you reading this have your one or two people that you confide in, that know your kishkas...That was Rav Twersky to my brother!His world has just collapsed because his beloved Rebbe was brutally murdered. It was the ultimate kiddush hashem, sanctification of G-d's name, wrapped in his Tallis and Tefillin.
The world will know no more of the sweetness of this special Rebbe who impacted thousands of talmidim. His family will have their beloved father singing Torah and lighting up their world with his greatness no more.The holy words of his Torah though will not be forgotten. I know my brother and the entire family feel the pain so greatly. The tears will continue to fall a long time...however Rabbi Twersky lived and breathed the precious Torah and his talmidim will continue to transmit the rich mesorah (heritage) he left.
We will cry for an extraordinary Torah figure who's life was snuffed out by senseless and cruel Palestinian Arabs.But - They will not win this war!
Yeshivas will continue to thrive and Shuls will continue to have minyanim.That's Rabbi Twersky's message to us all.
It is difficult but if we carry on b'achdus (in unity), we will succeed.May he be a meilitz yosher (an advocate in heaven) for his family, his talmidim, my brother Yechezkel Yehuda "Chesky" and all of the Jewish people.
