Abraham J. Twerski

Who is Abraham J. Twerski?

Abraham Joshua Twerski is an American Hasidic rabbi, a scion of the Chernobil Hasidic dynasty, and a psychiatrist specializing in substance abuse. He is a son of Grand Rebbe Jacob Israel Twerski of Hornosteipel of Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Dvorah Leah Twerski.

Twerski's medical career includes Gateway Rehabilitation Center, Pittsburgh, which he founded and serves 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.

In his rabbinic career Twerski is a prolific writer of Jewish books and of shiurim Torah-themed lectures. He was co-spiritual leader of Congregation Beth Jehudah with his father from ordination until 1959. During this time he composed a melody for the Hebrew verse Psalms 28:9 "Hoshea es Amecha", which became popular in Jewish circles. Twerski had a major influence on the turn toward orthodoxy of several young men in Milwaukee, including most notably Meir Tzvi Schuster, who later moved to Israel and founded the Heritage House in Jerusalem.