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This picture was taken in 1947 on the arrival of the Bobover Rebbe to America. He spent his first Pesach in Milwaukee with
his sister and brother-in-law. R to L: Rabbi Michel is holding the hand of the Bobover Rebbe, Reb Shlomo; Rebbe Yaakov Yis-
roel, ztz"l; and Reb Aaron Twerski

warmth. There were stirrings of Jewish ing testimony to the power of Shabbos. to forfeit his last shred of dignity.
life in Milwaukee once again. “The week after he made the commit- “It is a humbling experience to live
From among those groups, one third ment to become completely shomer Shab- among such inspiring people.”
of the people made the transition to a bos, a Midwest Airlines airplane was in-

kosher home and over half of them reg- volved in a fatal crash, the only such Later, over Melaveh Malkah, I ask
istered their young children in the Jew- incident in the company’s history. Mid- another question.
ish day school. west is a Milwaukee-based business, and The Twerski family name has come
They would have small Melaveh this was the biggest local story in years. to be associated with the ability to
Malkahs, just the Twerskis and these small “The episode occurred late on a Friday straddle two worlds, to be educated and
groups. At these intimate gatherings be- afternoon. sophisticated, even while living within
tween friends, the young Rebbe would “The editors called him up and told the four cubits of traditional chassidic
take guitar in hand and teach a new song. him it was his story, that he was in charge Judaism. The family boasts doctors,
They learned how to praise Him with of coordinating the various reporters and lawyers, and professors who are com-
“Romimu” and “Ein Aroch,” to thank him their angles. He apologized, but said that fortable in Ivy-league schools even as
with “Modeh Ani,” to pray with “T’kah he wasn’t available until Saturday night. they are most at home in the shtiebel.
b’Shofar” and “Min HaMeitzar.” They “It was a decision that cost him ad- I ask if this is a shittah, a governing
learned that Judaism is vibrant and warm, vancement and honor. He could have philosophy, and if it is, why their children,
passionate, and real. They learned that it gone so far on that story.” the next generation, don’t attend college.
was theirs. As the Rebbe talks, I hear an echo of Reb Michel shares a fascinating story
And thus was the community reborn. his words at the tisch, “the two sides of the with me.



coin, the strength to make the plunge and “My oldest brother, Reb Shloime,
Reb Michel speaks with great pride after, the strength to keep fighting.” ztz”l, was a special neshamah, holy and
about the accomplishments and sincerity Reb Michel underscores an idea pure. As a child, he would learn sifrei
of his people. He speaks of the particular which is central to his philosophy. “Kiruv Kabbalah for hours, and my mother
challenges that each of them faces, of his rechokim is not about numbers, about how was so concerned that she sent him to
respect for their loyalty and resolve. many people one can have over for a my zeideh, Reb Leibele, in Antwerp.
He tells one particular story. One day, Shabbos meal; it’s about the results, the The Zeideh got to know the lad and as-
he received a call from a metro reporter long haul after that initial burst of inspira- sured my mother that it was all right.
for the Milwaukee Sentinel who request- tion. This is a community that had grown “My father sent him to learn in Torah
ed an interview for a piece that he was together over so many years, that is still Vodaath, and he became the closest talmid
writing on the Orthodox community. growing together.” of Reb Shraga Feivel, developing as both a
Rabbi Twerski realized that the man The Rebbe lights up, much like a father talmid chacham and a chassid. At the
was a Jew. “You cannot write about us un- talking about his son’s accomplishments. height of his growth, when he was totally
less you come experience a Shabbos here “We don’t get that many meshulachim immersed in Torah and kedushah, the let-
by yourself.” here in Milwaukee, but the ones who do ter arrived from Milwaukee. In it were
The reporter, anxious to do a good come always mention to me that the recep- clear instructions from my father: he was
job, agreed. tion they get is something special. The to return home and start attending college.
He came for Shabbos with his wife. people here perceive that it is hard enough “My brother was stunned. It was in-
That was decades ago. for a person to stick out his hand and ask conceivable to him to leave the comfort-
He himself became the article, walk- for help; to refuse the request is telling him able, secure confines of the beis medrash
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