A Family member writes:
These photos were taken by a photographer for Time Magazine (that later merged with Life Magazine). This is R' Dr. AJ Twerski, and the event that was being chronicled was his graduation from medical school at Marquette University in 1959. Much of the cost of the schooling was assumed by Danny Thomas whose efforts to build hospitals for the poor took him to meetings with various notables in the medical field. At one of these meetings, he had met with one of the professors at Marquette who mentioned having a bright young student whose challenge in meeting the financial obligations was significant. He volunteered to pick up the tab. Time Magazine assigned a photographer to create this portfolio of his graduation, as well as his home life and his activities as the rabbi in Congregation Beth Jehudah (founded by his father ZT"L). Only one photo landed in the Time Magazine article. It seems the photographer contributed the rest to the archive, ending up on the website and open for public viewing.
I am a member of the family.
Is that Danny Thomas in the first picture?
ReplyDeleteYes, the m8ddle figure
Deleteits probably AJ or Aron?
ReplyDeleteThese photos were taken by a photographer for Time Magazine (that later merged with Life Magazine). This is R' Dr. AJ Twerski, and the event that was being chronicled was his graduation from medical school at Marquette University in 1959. Much of the cost of the schooling was assumed by Danny Thomas whose efforts to build hospitals for the poor took him to meetings with various notables in the medical field. At one of these meetings, he had met with one of the professors at Marquette who mentioned having a bright young student whose challenge in meeting the financial obligations was significant. He volunteered to pick up the tab. Time Magazine assigned a photographer to create this portfolio of his graduation, as well as his home life and his activities as the rabbi in Congregation Beth Jehudah (founded by his father ZT"L). Only one photo landed in the Time Magazine article. It seems the photographer contributed the rest to the archive, ending up on the website and open for public viewing.
ReplyDeleteI am a member of the family.
These pictures are incredible.
ReplyDeletein one of the pictures it seems that Thomas is wearing his Bekiche, am I correct? also who is the lady standing by the outdoor grill? is it his mother the daughter of RB"Z of Bobov Hay'd ?
ReplyDeleteOutdoor grill?
ReplyDeleteThat is the Milwaukee Rebetzin A"H. Rabbi Twerski is helping his son (his oldest, YM) push a lawn mower - a manual one. It is presumed that the baby that the Rebetzin is holding is a granddaughter (daughter of Reb Motel Z"L).
thanks,
ReplyDeleteWas she older then Reb Shloma of BP? did she know the first reb shloma? which year did reb Shloma the 1st die? did she marry in the states or in bobov/Chebin ? If I am not mistaking her husband was her 2nd or 3rd cousin, thru the Ratzferter.I know the family well but missing some details
Did AJ's father also wear a tie? I doubt the zeyda the Kedeyshus Tzion did.
ReplyDeleteanonymous,
ReplyDeleteA lot of Russian Rebbes went with ties.He had nothing to do with his shver.
His father, the Milwaukee Rebbe, wore a necktie.
ReplyDeleteAs far as connection with his shver, there is much that has remained unsaid, for the benefit of all. However, he invested many thousands of dollars, obtaining papers and visas to rescue the entire Bobov family, including his shver ZT"L that had rejected him years before. Those documents were in the possession of one of the members of the family that was arrested. The papers were confiscated and destroyed. It is also verified by the family that the Milwaukee Rebbe and Rebetzin had sent letters from America to Bobov that were opened and read - though not answered. It is interesting to note that the Bobov family that was rescued made their connections to Milwaukee immediately, and the family was reunited as if nothing negative had ever occurred. It is also noted in the documentary book on the Bobov family saga through the War (Nor the Moon by Night) that the Milwaukee Rebbe (der Shvugger) sent money from America to Reb Shloimele ZT"L which was helpful in his own rescue and those he saved along the way. There is no longer any trace of the issues that fell between The Milwaukee Rebbe (and all descendants until today) and the rest of the Bobov family.
anon the 2nd
ReplyDeleteI'm sure uncle she is proud of you for provider fodder for the ferd...
דו עזות פנים, דו! אזוי רעדט מען צו א פעטער??!!
ReplyDeleteYou're an embarassment to your illustrious family, Mr. Anonymous 7:10
And who may I ask is Danny Thomas?
ReplyDeleteI guess I could ask google that question...
What the Kedushas Tzion did and his childrens relationship between each other are two separate things.
ReplyDeleteThe Kedushas Tzion did a shidduch with his shviger's brother without seeing the chusen (YYT) and they met for the first time the week before the chasina.
Having relied on his shviger (Ratzferter Rebbetzin) the shidduch went ahead. What the rebbishe mishpuches did in Russia and those of Galizia were very different especially in terms of openess to the outside world (hence the necktie....). I doubt any born and bred Galicianer bneshek could have survived and raised doiros yeshurim mevorach like the Milwaki Rebbe did.
Belz had much worse issues the only difference is Bobov although not proud of it, is not in denial.
In Galicia Rebbishe kinder did not walk with spouses in public, read goishe newspapers, wear shaitels etc....
R' Shlomo Bobover had a major fight with his wife who insisted on wearing a shaitel to the Bobover Rebbe's embarasmnet in the chassidish world. His 2nd wife's akshunes prevented in this and other things prevented him from making Rebbishe shidduchim for his kids who married more modern balabatishe types....this has been a major reason why Bobov has the balabatishe image it does today....
We see the akshanus in the Bobover Rebbetzin's ben yachid 'Reb Benzion'
Did anyone ask why all the Twersky's, Halberstams and others accept R' M.D. Ungar Shlita but almost none go to R' Benzion ?
If Professor Twersky was to be a 'haiser chudis' of anyone it is R' M.D. where all his NY children and grandchildern go....
Beautiful pictures. Amazing story. Truth is truly stranger than fiction. If Chaim Potok had written a novel about a Lebanese Hollywood star paying for a chassidic rebbe's son's med school expenses, I would have laughed about how ridiculous and unrealistic it was!
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know if R'Dr.Twerski has ever been mefarseim this in his talks or books? I'm sure he's not ashamed of it the way one would expect a revisionist-chareidi would be. And it's obviously part of the public record. But I just wonder if this is something he shares in public settings.
to Yehupitz:
ReplyDeleteHappiness and the human spirit: the spirituality of becoming the best you can be By Abraham Twerski
(googled it)
Thank you.
ReplyDeleteIt's on pp.20-21 of the book.
The subject matter of this thread should exclude Bobov 45&48 politics. It is interesting that the majority of all Bobover kinder are at 45, though several are strong chassidim at 48. At simchos in the Twerski family, all dance together.
ReplyDeleteIf this website will fall into the trap of becoming a soundboard for the Bobov politics, I will feel bad for all. Everyone is entitled to their feelings about that subject, but it is foreign to this article and discussion. Please respectfully keep it that way.
How Danny Thomas helped Rabbi Dr. Twerski finish Med school as told by Rabbi Dr. Twerski himself - http://j.mp/da8Ahc
ReplyDelete