Rebbetzin Feige Twerski of Milwaukee’s Congregation Beth Jehudah is widely known, respected and loved as a teacher, counselor and speaker. But she was reluctant to become a writer.
“It wasn’t anything I saw myself doing,” she said in a recent interview with The Chronicle in her West Side home. “I counsel people and speak worldwide,” she said, “but writing is a discipline.”
Persuaded by others, who argued that her writing could help people, she began counseling readers of the Aish.com Web site through a “Rebbetzin Feige” column on the site’s family section.
Although “the counsel that [she] offer[s] is Torah-based [and] that’s the relevance of it,” Twerski said, “the wisdom of the Torah is consistent with the wisdom of psychology.
Moreover, the site “attracts a cross section [of readers], including secular Jews and non-Jews,” who send in questions.
She also writes on assigned topics in the weekly “Hamodia: The Newspaper of Torah Jewry,” which she described as “more to the right.”
Samples of all of these have recently been published in book form, “Ask Rebbetzin Feige,” (Artscroll Mesorah Press, hardcover $21.99).
Mainly taken from her writings for Aish.com and Hamodia, “Ask Rebbetzin Feige” offers advice from a faith perspective. “I think that it could be of value to anyone experiencing the human condition,” Twerski said.
In her position, with husband Rabbi Michel Twerski, as a community spiritual leader, and in her life as a daughter, wife and mother of 11, Twerski has “been in the position where [she has] seen the range of emotions, the trials and tribulations of life.”
And experiencing “a variety of emotions [and] trying to reconcile them” has enabled her “to connect with the emotions of others [and] “understand the poignancy of life,” she said.
Her topics include “Challenges,” “Family,” “Personal Growth,” “Faith Perspectives,” “Holy Days and Holidays,” “Women’s Issues,” “Avodah: The G-d, Man Connection,” “Identity and Roles,” “Transitions,” and “Moments & Reflections.”
Some of the subtopics included are eating disorders, soul mates, childhood jealousy, creating peace, self-esteem, the singles dilemma, Jewish mothers: highs and lows, personal liberation, loss, and women and the workplace.
She relates anecdotes about people she has encountered who exemplify wisdom and faith. In the “Challenges” section for example, Twerski tells of visiting a woman who recently gave birth to a child with Down syndrome.
“Entering her room, I was greeted by what appeared to be a reaction of contradictions — tears streaming down her cheeks, coupled with a big smile that illuminated her beautiful face.
“‘I never would have chosen or asked for this challenge,” she admitted candidly, ‘but if God was looking for a kind, loving home for this little soul, He has found the right place.’
“This captures the classic, faith-based attitude,” Twerski wrote.
“All of us can relate to a story like this. In one form or another,” we all face challenges, she said.
Elaborating on this perspective, she explained, “Everything that happens comes from a purposeful Creator. G-d orchestrates the circumstances and if we didn’t have them we would never tap into the magnificence of our potential. Whatever happens in life comes from a loving, heavenly parent who is guiding [us]” something as an earthly parent would, she said.
“That perspective is what allows us to embrace life and not be undone by life.” It’s an antidote to depression and “it’s what keeps us going,” she said.
Twerski, who has taught a class called “Ethics of the Fathers, as Studied by the Mothers” at the Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center for some 35 years, credits the women who have studied with her, as well as her West Side community, for the inspiration to write this book.
“A book doesn’t happen in a vacuum. All of these fabulous people who have taken a direction in life toward a life of purpose are my inspiration. I am awestruck by them,” she said.
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