6 | FEBRUARY 11 • 2021 

essay
Rabbi Dr. Twerski: 
A Legacy of Caring

Times of Israel
T

he recognition upon the pass-
ing on Jan. 31 of Rabbi Dr. 
Abraham Twerski — a scholar 
and psychiatrist — has already shown 
us the many facets of his greatness. 
 Over the years, I was 
fortunate to meet him 
and to hear him speak 
in synagogues where I 
was the rabbi, at rab-
binic conferences, and 
to read several of the 
92 books that he wrote. 
His personal warmth, 
whether it was speaking to a large 
audience or giving time to someone 
after a talk always permeated all his 
interactions. There are several lessons 
that stand out in my mind, which I 
would like to share.

The first lesson is that the issues 
we struggle with in our lives are not 
temporary problems that we engage 
with, overcome and then move on to 
the next one. He said that the issues 
we struggle with, character traits we 
need to change, bad habits we need 
to break, complicated relationships in 
our lives are probably issues that we 
will need to address our entire lives. 
“Polishing the Diamond” (see his story 
by that name) is something that takes 
a lifetime.
The second lesson came when 
someone asked him why life is so 
hard, and it seems we are always 
struggling. Many of his books empha-
size celebrating life and being joyful, 
feeling good about ourselves and 
having self-confidence. Yet his answer 
was very simple and as he was often 

Rabbi 
Jonathan 
Feldman

PURELY COMMENTARY

1942 - 2021

Covering and Connecting 
Jewish Detroit Every Week
jn

To make a donation to the 
DETROIT JEWISH NEWS 
FOUNDATION
go to the website
www.djnfoundation.org

The Detroit Jewish News (USPS 275-520) 

is published every Thursday at 

29200 Northwestern Highway, #110, 

Southfield, Michigan. Periodical postage paid 

at Southfield, Michigan, and additional mailing 

offices. Postmaster: send changes to: 

Detroit Jewish News, 29200 Northwestern Hwy., 

#110, Southfield, MI 48034.

Publisher
The Detroit Jewish 
News Foundation

Board of Directors:
 Chair: Gary Torgow
 Vice President: David Kramer
Secretary: Robin Axelrod
 Treasurer: Max Berlin
 Board members: Larry Jackier, Jeffrey 
 Schlussel, Mark Zausmer

 Senior Advisor to the Board: 
Mark Davidoff
 Alene and Graham Landau Archivist Chair: 
Mike Smith
Founding President & Publisher Emeritus:
Arthur Horwitz
Founding Publisher 
Philip Slomovitz, of blessed memory

| Editorial
DIrector of Editorial: 
Jackie Headapohl
jheadapohl@thejewishnews.com

Copy Editor: David Sachs
dsachs@thejewishnews.com
Social Media and Digital Producer:
Nathan Vicar
nvicar@thejewishnews.com
Staff Reporter: Danny Schwartz
dschwartz@thejewishnews.com
Editorial Assistant: Sy Manello
smanello@thejewishnews.com
Senior Columnist: Danny Raskin
dannyraskin2132@gmail.com

Contributing Writers:
Nate Bloom, Rochel Burstyn, Suzanne 
Chessler, Annabel Cohen, Shari S. 
Cohen, Alicia Chandler, Shelli Liebman 
Dorfman, Louis Finkelman, Stacy 
Gittleman, Esther Allweiss Ingber, Mark 
Jacobs, Barbara Lewis, Jennifer Lovy, 
Rabbi Jason Miller, Alan Muskovitz, 
Robin Schwartz, Mike Smith, Steve 
Stein, Ashley Zlatopolsky

| Advertising Sales 
Director of Advertising: Keith Farber
kfarber@thejewishnews.com
Senior Account Executive: 
Kathy Harvey-Mitton
kmitton@thejewishnews.com

| Business Office
Director of Operations: Amy Gill
agill@thejewishnews.com
 Operations Manager: Andrea Gusho
agusho@thejewishnews.com
Operations Assistant:
 Ashlee Szabo
Circulation: Danielle Smith
Billing Coordinator: Pamela Turner

| Production By 
Farago & Associates
Manager: Scott Drzewiecki 
Designers: Kelly Kosek, Kaitlyn Schoen,
Michelle Sheridan

MISSION STATEMENT The Detroit Jewish News will be of service to the Jewish community. The Detroit Jewish 
News will inform and educate the Jewish and general community to preserve, protect and sustain the Jewish 
people of greater Detroit and beyond, and the State of Israel.

VISION STATEMENT The Detroit Jewish News will operate to appeal to the broadest segments of the greater 
Detroit Jewish community, refl
 ecting the diverse views and interests of the Jewish community while advancing the 
morale and spirit of the community and advocating Jewish unity, identity and continuity.

DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
29200 Northwestern Hwy. Suite 110,
Southfi
 eld, MI 48034
248-354-6060
thejewishnews.com

JTA/COURTESY AMUDIM

Rabbi Dr. Abraham Twerski

