Beginning in the 1930’s, Boro Park was home to Rebbe Menachem Nochum Twersky, known as the Skver-Machnovka Rebbe, a scion of the Skver and Chernobyl dynasties. Thus, we bring you glimpses into his life, and his time in Boro Park of yesteryear. 

Skvyra

The Skverer Chassidic dynasty traces its roots to the Chernonyler dynasty. Rav Yitzchok of Skvyra, the founder of the dynasty, was the son of Rav Mordechai Twersky of Chernobyl. His son was Rav Dovid Twersky of Skver, and his sons were Rav Menachem Nachum of Skver-Machnovka as well as Rav Yaakov Yosef of Skver, and other children as well. 

The Rebbe was raised in the Skverer court, and married the daughter of Rebbe Yosef Meir Twersky of Machnovka (he was a son of Rav Avrohom Yehoshua Heschil of Skver, who was a son of the first Skverer Rebbe). Following the passing of his father-in-law, Rav Menachem Nachum assumed the leadership of the chassidim in Machnovka (located about 25 km from Berdychiv). 

During World War One, the Admorim of Skver found themselves in Kishinev. 

While Rav Menachem Nochum left in 1924 for America, his brother, Rav Yaakov Yosef remained behind. There are letters written during those years between the two brothers. In one, Rav Yaakov Yosef asks for penicillin for his ailing daughter. In another, he skips over the terrible events that occurred to him and his family during the war years, and gives thanks for being spared the worst.   

Boro Park 

By 1940, the Rebbe had already moved to Boro Park, at 1266 51st Street. We know this because, from on 1940’s tax photos, we can clearly see the signage indicating the presence of a shul there. 

The Rebbe’s shtiebel in his home on 51st Street drew in Boro Park residents from the neighborhood, and served as a center for Torah and tefillah, as evidenced from the following notice: “Chevra Beis Dovid Chasidei Skvere. In the Skverer Rebbe’s Beis Medrash, 1266 51st Street, Reb Yisroel Yosef Eckhaus learns a shiur in Gemoro Shabbos before mincha, and every day, Reb Avrohom Shor teaches a shiur in Ein Yaakov between mincha and Maariv.” 

Following an eye surgery, we find the following advertisement. “The Skverer Rebbe is already at home,” says the Morgen Zhournal. “The Skverer Rebbe, Harav Menachem Nachum Twersky, who underwent an operation on his eyes, left the hospital yesterday. He remains under the doctor’s observation. The Rebbe may be visited at his home, 1266 51st Street, Brooklyn, N.Y. 

In 1946, the Rebbe advertised the acceptance of members into his society which was geared exclusively to Shomrei Shabbos, not an assured thing in America of those days. “Chevra Beis Dovid Chasidei Skvere, 1266 51st Street, Brooklyn. Friends of the Skverer Rebbe, Harav R’ Menachem Nochum Twersky, the oldest son of the great tzaddik, Harav hakodosh Rav Duvidel Skverer, zt”l, make known that it is accepting new members, Shomrei Shabbos, which will entitle them, after one-hundred-and-twenty years to the cemetery of the chevra which is located at a beautiful location, where other Chassidic chevras also have their beis hachaim. 

“We also have for sale individual lots for an affordable price. Whoever wishes to belong to the chevra, with all the benefits, should turn to this aforementioned address.” 

Interestingly, although we read about the Rebbe’s establishment of a society, which also purchased a plot of land for burials, the Rebbe himself was laid to rest on the chelkah of the Chernobyler Admorim in Beth David Cemetery. 

The Rebbe was niftar in the year 1946. On the following year, his younger brother, the previous Skverer Rebbe, Rav Yaakov Yosef Twersky, came to America. He settled in Boro Park even before relocating to 571 Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg. In Boro Park, he occupied the shul of his recently-niftar brother, the skver-Machnovka Rebbe, until moving to Williamsburg, and subsequently to New Square, in Rockland County. 

The Rebbe left behind generations of descendants who are a credit to his legacy.