5TC regrets to inform you of yet another tragic loss to Klal Yisroel, on a day when already 2 Gedolim have been lost to COVID-19. Rabbi Dr. Abraham J. Twerski ZT”L, whose many lectures and world-famous books have transformed and enriched the lives of tens of thousands, has passed away.
The Rav had been hospitalized in Eretz Yisroel since contracting the virus just 1 week ago.
R’ Twerski was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He enrolled in the Hebrew Theological College of Chicago (now located in Skokie, Illinois) and received his Semicha in 1951. In 1953 R’ Twerski enrolled at Milwaukee’s Marquette University, and subsequently graduated from its medical school in 1960, after which he moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Twerski’s medical career includes Gateway Rehabilitation Center, Pittsburgh, which he founded and served as medical director emeritus, clinical director of the Department of Psychiatry at St. Francis Hospital in Pittsburgh, associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Medicine, and founder of the Shaar Hatikvah rehabilitation center for prisoners in Israel.
R’ Twerski was a prolific writer of Jewish books and of shiurim. He has written over 60 books on Judaism and self-help topics. The Rav was known throughout the world as a trailblazer talking about topics that the Orthodox community had initially not put much attention to, including addiction & many other topics.
"Rav Dr. Twerski built an empire, saved tens of thousands of lives, and was a walking kiddush HaShem" – friend from Pittsburgh
— Aryeh Lebowitz (@bknwrabbi) January 31, 2021
"Only people in Pittsburgh really know how special R' Twerski was. We saw a chasid standing on the corner getting a hug from a homeless man, and a tiny town with a kosher kitchen and shomer shabbos residencies in the hospital, and a huge farm for addicted kids" A friend from Pitt
— Aryeh Lebowitz (@bknwrabbi) January 31, 2021
המקום ינחם אתכם בתוך שאר אבלי ציון וירושלים
More details to follow.