Abraham J. Twerski

**Abraham Joshua Twerski** (hebraisk: אֲבְרָהָם יְהוֹשֻׁע טווערסקי ; født 6. oktober 1930 i Milwaukee i Wisconsin i USA, død 31. januar 2021 i Bnei Brak i Israel) var en amerikansk hasidisk rabbiner, en av de høyest aktede innen det hasidiske Chernobyl-dynastiet, og en psykiater som spesialiserte seg på stoffmisbruk.

## Liv og virke
### Bakgrunn, utdannelse, tidlig virke
Abraham J. Twerski ble født i Milwaukee, moren var Devorah Leah *neé* Halberstam (1900–1995), dtatter av den andre rebben av Bobov, og faren var rabbi Jacob Israel Twerski (1898–1973), som var rabbi for Beth Jehudah- synagogen i Milwaukee. Denne eldre rabbi Twerski immigrerte til USA i 1927, og nedstammet fra rabbi Menachem Nachum Twerski, grunnlegger av det hasidiske Chernobyl-dynastiet, og disippel av Baal Shem Tov. Twerski var den tredje av fem brødre. Flere av brødrene skulle få betydningsfulle karrierer.

Abraham Twerski tok *High School* i Milwaukee, med slutteksamen som 16-åring. Han begynte på Hebrew Theological College i Chicago (som senere flyttet ut til Skokie) og ble ordinert til rabbi i 1951.

Han virket som assisterende rabbi med sin far. I 1952 giftet han seg med Goldie Flusberg. I 1953 begynte han på Milwaukees Marquette University, og tok slutteksamen fra dens medisinske fakultet i 1960. Han fikk sin psykiatriske spesialisering ved University of Pittsburgh, og virket ytterligere to år ved det statlige hospital i Pennsylvania. Han ble så hentet inn til leder for den psykiatriske avdeling ved Pittsburghs St. Francis Hospital.

### Karriere
#### Innen medisinen
Twerskis medisinske karriere omfatter *Gateway Rehabilitation Center* i Pittsburgh, som han grunnla og virket ved, virke som klinisk leder ved *Department of Psychiatry* ved St. Francis Hospital i Pittsburgh, *associate professor* i psykiatri ved University of Pittsburghs medisinske fakultet, og grunnleggelsen av Shaar Hatikvah rehabiliteringssenter for fanger i Israel.

#### Rabbinerkarriere
Som rabbiner forfattet Twerski en mengde bøker om jødedom og især shiurim (Torah-baserte forelesninger). Han var også medvirkende åndelig leder for menigheten Beth Jehudah sammen med sin far til 1959. Han komponerte i denne tiden en melodi for salme 28,9 «Hoshea es Amecha», som slo an i jødiske kretser.

### Senere liv og virke
Twerski trakk seg fra fulltidsarbeid i 1995 og flyttet til Monsey i New York, som hans andre hustru Gail var fra. Etter rundt ti år der flyttet de til  Teaneck i New Jersey. Twerski flyttet til sist til Israel med sin hustru, og oppfordret andre jøder å gjøre det samme.

Han døde på Mayanei Hayeshua Medical Center i Bnei Brak i Israel den 31. januar 2021 av covid-19.

## Verker
Han forfattet over 60 bøker, del som jødedommen og dels selvhjelpslitteratur - blant hans forfatterskap inngikk et samarbeid med Charles M. Schulz som lot ham benytte illustrasjoner fra tegneserien *[[Knøttene]]* for å kaste lys over menneskelig samskvem og adferd.

* *Addictive Thinking and the Addictive Personality: two books in one*, with Craig Nakken (M.J.F., 1999)
* *Addictive Thinking: Why Do We Lie to Ourselves? : Why Do Others Believe Us?* (Hazelden Foundation, 1990)
* *Addictive Thinking: Understanding Self-deception*, with foreword by John Wallace (Harper & Row, 1990; 2nd Ed. Hazelden Foundation, 1997)
* *Alive! : A 10-step Guide to a Vibrant life*, with Mordechai Weinberger (Shaar Press, 2015)
* *Angels Don't Leave Footprints: Discovering What's Right With Yourself* (Artscroll Mesorah Publications, 2001)
* *Caution: "Kindness" Can Be Dangerous to the Alcoholic* (Prentice-Hall, 1981, 1987)
* *The Clergy and Chemical Dependency* (Edgehill, 1990)
* *Compulsive Gambling: More Than Dreidel* (Mirkov Publications, 2006)
* *Coping With Stress: The 9/11 Generation* (Gateway Rehabilitation Center, 2002, 35 pp.)
* *Dear Rabbi, Dear Doctor: The Renowned Rabbi-Psychiatrist Gives Straight Answers to Tough Questions* (Shaar Press / Artscroll Mesorah Publications, 2005)
* *Dear Rabbi, Dear Doctor Volume 2: The Renowned Rabbi-Psychiatrist Gives Straight Answers to Tough Questions* (Shaar Press / Artscroll Mesorah Publications, 2007)
* *Dearer Than Life: Making Your Life More Meaningful* (Artscroll Mesorah Publications, 1997)
* *Do Unto Others: How Good Deeds Can Change Your Life* (Andrews McMeel, 1997)
* *Effective Living : An Upbeat and Uplifting Life Can be Yours* (Shaar Press / Mesorah Publications, 2014)
* *The Enemy Within: Confronting your Challenges in the 21st Century* (Shaar Press / Artscroll Mesorah Publications, 2001)
* *The First Year of Marriage: Enhancing the Success of Your Marriage Right from the Start—and Even Before it Begins* (Artscroll Mesorah Publications, 2004)
* *Forgiveness : Don't Let Resentment Keep You Captive* (Shaar Press / Artscroll Mesorah Publications, 2012)
* *A Formula for Proper Living : Practical Lessons from Life and Torah* (Jewish Lights Publishing, 2009)
* *Four Chassidic Masters: the Heart, the Mind, the Eye, and the Tongue—History, Stories, Teachings* (Shaar Press / Artscroll Mesorah Publications, 2008)
* *From Bondage to Freedom : the Passover Haggadah with a Commentary Illuminating the Liberation of the Spirit*, with Hirsh Michel Chinn and Benzion Twerski (Shaar Press / Artscroll Mesorah Publications, 1995, 2001)
* *From Pulpit to Couch* (Mirkov publications, 2005)
* *Generation to Generation: Personal Recollections of a Chassidic Legacy* (Traditional Press, 1986. Excerpted edition pub. by C.I.S., 2003)
* *Getting Up When You're Down: A Mature Discussion of an Adult Malady - Depression and Related Conditions * (Shaar Press / Artscroll Mesorah Publications, 1997)
* *Gevurah : My Life, Our World, and the Adventure of Reaching 80*, (Shaar Press / Artscroll Mesorah Publications, 2010)
* *Growing Each Day* (Artscroll Mesorah Publications, 2004)
* *Happiness and the Human Spirit: The Spirituality of Becoming the Best You Can Be* (Jewish Lights Publishing, 2007)
* *Healing from Despair : Choosing Wholeness in a Broken World*, with Elie Kaplan Spitz and Erica Shapiro Taylor (Jewish Lights Publishing, 2010)
* *I Am I: a Jewish Perspective From the Case Files of an Eminent Psychiatrist* (Shaar Press / Artscroll Mesorah Publications, 1993)
* *I'd Like to Call for Help, but I Don't Know the Number: The Search for Spirituality in Everyday Life* (Pharos Books, 1991; Henry Holt, 1996)
* *I Didn't Ask to Be in This Family: Sibling Relationships and How They Shape Adult Behavior and Relationships*, with Charles M. Schulz (Henry Holt, 1996)
* *I Didn't Ask to Be in This Family: Sibling Relationships and How They Shape Adult Relationships* (Topper Books, 1992)
* *In-Laws: It's All Relative*, with Leah Shifrin Averick (The Shaar Press / Artscroll Mesorah Publications, 2009)
* *I've Gotta Get Out of My Way! : Eliminating the Obstacles to Success*  (Mekor Press / Menucha Publishers, 2017)
* *It Happens to Doctors, Too* (Hazelden Foundation, 1982)
* *It's Not As Tough As You Think: How to Smooth Out Life's Bumps* (The Shaar Press / Artscroll Mesorah Publications, 1999)
* *It's Not As Tough At Home As You Think: Making Family Life at Home Smoother and Better* (The Shaar Press / Artscroll Mesorah Publications, 1999)
* *Let Us Make Man: Self-esteem Through Jewishness* (C.I.S, 1991)
* *Letters to my Children* (Shaar Press / Mesorah Publications, 2015)
* *Life's Blessings : The Meaning and Significance of our Berachos* (The Shaar Press, 2015)
* *Life's Too Short: Pull the Plug on Self-defeating Behavior and Turn On the Power of Self-esteem* (St. Martin's Press, 1995)

* *Light At the End of the Tunnel: An Inspirational Story* Fiction. (Artscroll Mesorah Publications, 2003)
* *Lights Along the Way: Timeless Lessons for Today from Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto's [[Mesillas Yesharim]]* (Artscroll Mesorah Publications, 1995)
* *Like Yourself: And Others Will, Too* (Prentice-Hall, 1978, 1986)
* *Living Each Day* (Artscroll Mesorah Publications, 1988, 5th ed. 2003)
* *Living Each Week* (Artscroll Mesorah Publications, 1992)
* *Messages From The Mishnah* (Shaar Press / Artscroll Mesorah Publications, 2013)
* *Not Just Stories: The Chassidic Spirit Through Its Classic Stories* (Shaar Press / Artscroll Mesorah Publications, 1997)
* *Overcoming Burnout: Recognizing, Addressing and Preventing Burnout - in Yeshivah, the Workplace, and Beyond*, with Alon Gul (Lakewood NJ: Israel Bookshop Publications, 2013) 
* *Positive Parenting: Developing Your Child's Potential*, with Ursula Verena Schwartz (Artscroll Mesorah Publications, 1996)
* *A Practical Guide to Rabbinic Counseling*, with Yisrael N Levitz (Feldheim, 2005; Jewish Lights Publishing, 2012)
* *Prayerfully Yours: Creating the Bond Between Man and His Maker* (Shaar Press / Artscroll Mesorah Publications, 2001)
* *The Problem Was Me : How to End Negative Self-talk and Take Your Life to a New Level*, with Thomas Gagliano (Gentle Path Press, 2011)
* *The Rabbi & the Nuns : The Inside Story of a Rabbi's Therapeutic Work With the Sisters of St. Francis*, (Mekor Press / Menucha Publishers, 2013)
* *Rebbes and Chassidim: What They Said - What They Meant* (Shaar Press / Artscroll Mesorah Publications, 2000)
* *Recognizing a Loved One's Addiction, and Providing Help* (Jewish Lights Publishing, 2004)
* *Seek Sobriety, Find Serenity: Thoughts for Every Day* (Pharos Books, 1993; Feldheim Publishers 2014)
* *Seize the Moments: Captivating Nuggets of Torah Wisdom* (Shaar Press / Artscroll Mesorah Publications, 2011)
* *Self-Discovery in Recovery* (Hazelden Foundation, 1984; Harper & Row, 1989)
* *Self-improvement? I'm Jewish! : Overcoming Self-defeating Behavior* (Shaar Press / Artscroll Mesorah Publications, 1995)
* *The Shabbos Companion: Customs, Prayers, Stories, Zemiros : Shabbos Day* (The Shaar Press / Artscroll Mesorah Publications, 2008)
* *The Shabbos Companion: Customs, Prayers, Stories, Zemiros : Shabbos Eve* (The Shaar Press / Artscroll Mesorah Publications, 2007)
* *The Shame Borne in Silence: Spouse Abuse in the Jewish Community* (Mirkov Publications, 1996; 2nd ed. Urim Publications, 2014)
* *Simchah: It's Not Just Happiness* (Artscroll Mesorah Publications, 2006)
* *Smiling Each Day* (Artscroll Mesorah Publications, 1993, 4th ed. 2003)
* *The Spiritual Self: Reflections on Recovery and God* (Hazelden Foundation, 2000)
* *Stepping Out of the Abyss : a Jewish Guide to the 12 Steps*, Menachem Poznanski, Aryeh Buchsbayew, and Abraham J Twerski (Mosaica Press, 2017)
* *Substance-Abusing High Achievers: Addiction as an Equal Opportunity Destroyer* (J. Aronson, 1998)
* *Successful Relationships at Home, at Work and with Friends: Bringing Control Issues under Control* (Shaar Press / Artscroll Mesorah Publications, 2003)
* *The Sun will Shine Again : Coping, Persevering, and Winning in Troubled Economic Times* (The Shaar Press / Artscroll Mesorah Publications, 2009)
* *A Taste of Nostalgia : Tales and Recipes to Nourish Body and Soul*, with Judi Dick (Shaar Press / Artscroll Mesorah Publications, 2006)
* *Ten Steps To Being Your Best: a Practical Handbook to Enhance Your Life in Every Way* (The Shaar Press / Artscroll Mesorah Publications, 2004)
* *Teshuvah Through Recovery : Experience the Transformative Power of the Twelve Steps* (Mekor Press, 2016)
* *That's Not a Fault...It's a Character Trait* (St. Martin's Press, 1999)
* *The Thin You Within You: Winning the Weight Game with Self-Esteem* (St. Martin's Press, 1997)
* *Twerski on Chumash* (Shaar Press / Artscroll Mesorah Publications, 2003)
* *Twerski on Machzor : Rosh Hashanah* (Shaar Press / Artscroll Mesorah Publications, 2011)
* *Twerski on Machzor : Yom Kippur* (Shaar Press / Artscroll Mesorah Publications, 2012)
* *Twerski on Prayer: Creating the Bond Between Man and His Maker*, a re-issue of *Prayerfully Yours* (Shaar Press / Artscroll Mesorah Publications, 2004)
* *Twerski On Spirituality* (Shaar Press / Artscroll Mesorah Publications, 1998)
* *Visions of the Fathers [[Pirkei Avos]]* (Artscroll Mesorah Publications, 1999, 2005)
* *Waking Up Just In Time : A Therapist Shows How to Use The Twelve-Steps Approach to Life's Ups And Downs*, with Charles M. Schulz (Topper Books, 1990; St. Martins Press, 1995)
* *When Do the Good Things Start?*, with Charles M. Schulz (Topper Books, 1988; St. Martins Press, 1995)
* *Who Says You're Neurotic: How to Avoid Mistaken Psychiatric Diagnoses When the Problem May Be a Physical Condition* (Prentice-Hall, 1984)
* *Wisdom Each Day* (Artscroll Mesorah Publications, 2000)
* *Without a Job, Who Am I?: Rebuilding Your Self When You've Lost Your Job, Home, or Life Savings* (Hazelden Foundation, 2009)
* *The Zeide Reb Motele: The Life of the Tzaddik R'Mordechai Dov of Hornosteipel* (Artscroll Mesorah Publications, 2002)

## Referanser


## Eksterne lenker
* About Twerski  at Gateway Rehabilitation Center