It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of the Rachmastrivka Rebbe, Rav Chai Yitzchok Isaac Twersky zt”l.
The rebbe was a son of Rav Yochanan Twersky of Rachmastrivka and a son-in-law of Rav Yaakov Yosef Twersky of Skver.
Rav Chai Yitzchak, born into a family steeped in Chassidic tradition, embraced a life of pashtus, humility, and devotion. His spiritual journey, marked by his “Yerushalayimer Yid” way of life, reflected a commitment to both mesorah and meaningful engagement with the world.
The rebbe was born in 1931 to a distinguished lineage of Chassidic rebbes. His illustrious lineage traces back to the Skverer dynasty and the revered Rav Itzik’l of Skver. He was given the name Chai Yitzchak after a miraculous recovery from a serious illness.
The depth of his family’s faith and the connection to their mesorah became a defining aspect of his life.
Growing up in Yerushalayim, Rav Chai Yitzchak found his spiritual mentor in Rav Isser Zalman Meltzer at Yeshiva Etz Chaim. His deep love for learning and limud Hatorah blossomed under the guidance of his rebbi. He absorbed the teachings of Rav Isser Zalman Meltzer and imbibed the ahavas haTorah and yiras Shomayim of his rebbi.
Rav Chai Yitzchak ultimately left his home in Yerushalayim and journeyed to America. This marked a significant transition in his life, bringing him to a new world where he would come to play a crucial role in the growth of a community.
As Rachmistrivka Rebbe of Boro Park, a position he assumed in 1982 at the insistence of the Machnovka Rebbe, his leadership style emphasized simplicity and humility. He established mosdos to meet the needs of his growing kehillah and became a revered manhig to his Chassidim and to all Yidden who sought his bracha and counsel.
Rav Chai Yitzchak continued the tradition of shared leadership with his brother, Rav Yisrael Mordechai, the Rachmistrivka Rebbe in Yerushalayim. This collaboration demonstrated a unique harmony between brothers, united in their commitment to serving their respective kehillos with humility and devotion.
Known for his simplicity, the rebbe demonstrated his commitment to anavah in various extraordinary ways. He undertook menial tasks, such as taking out the garbage and cleaning, with no airs of entitlement. His selflessness and genuine care for the people around him endeared him to Chassidim and underscored his tzidkus and leadership.
The rebbe left an indelible mark on tens of thousands, and his passing leaves a gaping void in the world of Torah and Chassidus.
{Matzav.com}