Rav Yosef Meir Twersky was born in 5620/1860 in Skver. He was the son of Rav Avrohom Yehoshua Heschel of Skver.
Rav Yosef Meir was the son-in-law of Rav Menachem Nachum Twersky of Loyav, like him a descendant of the Chernobyl dynasty.
After the petira of his father in 5246/1886, Rav Yosef Meir was appointed Rebbe in the village of Machnovka in Ukraine.
His court attracted many thousands of Chassidim, and his influence was tremendous. Rav Yosef Meir was revered by his generation; many Tzaddikim said that he was worthy of being among the talmidim of the Ba’al Shem Tov.
Rav Yosef Meir was known as a boki in sifrei Kabbala. He endured fasts and other self-inflictions.
During World War I, many Yidden found refuge in his Bais Medrash, despite the mesirus nefesh this demanded of him.
Rav Yosef Meir was niftar on Erev Rosh Chodesh Elul 5677/1917 in Machnovka. He was fifty-seven.
His son, Rav Avrohom Yehoshua Heshel, succeeded him as Rebbe. He later moved to Eretz Yisrael, where he rebuilt the Machnovka court in Bnei Brak.
Rav Yosef Meir’s sons-in-law were Rav Dovid Leib Twersky; Rav Nachum Twersky of Zlotipoli, the son of Rav Dovid of Skver; and Rav Yehoshua Rokeach of Yaroslav.
Zechuso yagen aleinu.
