My Tiny, Ugly World

Born in Shpikov, Russian Empire (today Shpykiv, Ukraine), to a family descended from the first rebbe of Chernobyl, Yitzḥak Nahum Twersky was brought up in the Hasidic court founded by his grandfather Menachem Nahum Twersky. Though a scion of a prominent Hasidic dynasty, Twersky harbored reservations concerning Hasidic traditions, which he revealed via correspondence to the Yiddish writer Jacob Dinezon in a confessional letter about his inner turmoil on the issue and his own life circumstances. Ultimately, Twersky married the daughter of the rebbe of Belz and assimilated into the Belzer Hasidic leadership, in which he held significant influence throughout his life. As his father’s health failed, Twersky returned to Shpikov in 1914, without his family, and was made rebbe to the Hasidim of Shpikov. After Belz was leveled during World War I, Twersky rejoined his family and eventually became rebbe in the town of Rave (Rava-Ruska, Ukraine). He and his family were likely murdered at the Belzec extermination camp.