Six Chassidic dynasties, going back to the Baal Shem Tov, converged in the late 19th century Rebbe of Hornosteipel. This legacy, the foundation of his development as a tzaddik, was expressed in numerous facets of his highly refined personality as well as his spiritual achievements. Over a forty-year period, Reb Mordechai Dov, known to his beloved contemporaries as Reb Motele, earned a golden reputation as a person possessing soaring scholarly abilities, a passionate love for every Jew and palpable sensitivity to any pain or adversity confronting his Chassidim.

How fortunate for this generation that the Rebbe’s great-great-grandson, Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski, M.D., has dedicated his insightful literary talents to the pleasant task of bringing this outstanding gadol hador to the attention of today’s reading public. As a descendant of this renowned dynasty, Rabbi Twerski has collected the treasures of his heritage and combined them with family stories — handed down through the generations — of other famous personages of that era. Photos from Dr. Twerski’s private collection — even a rare photo of Reb Motele himself — are included in this absorbing anecdotal biography.