A Tzaddik in Our Time: The life of Rabbi Aryeh Levin

by Simcha Raz

In our day, the word hero is usually associated with acts of valor, on or off the battlefield; sometimes with sports or cultural figures, adventurous types; but rarely, with those exemplary individuals who live humble, pious lives. Yet such was the life of Rabbi Aryeh Levin.
Often referred to as the tzaddik (righteous) of Jerusalem, he was truly a giant of the spirit, a hero of the heart, and this is his life story. Born in Lithuania, he arrived in Jerusalem at the turn of the 20th century. Beyond his hours of teaching, his days and nights were filled with care and consideration for those in need. He regularly provided comfort to prisoners, patients in leper hospitals, and the downtrodden. His sincerity and kindness broke through boundaries, bringing light and love into the lives of thousands.
Every page of this inspiring, heartfelt biography is filled with memorable stories, anecdotes, and Reb Aryeh s words of wisdom. It s rare to find a book that has the power to transform a reader s life into a better, more meaningful one, but this one does.

Genres: Jewish, Nonfiction, Biography, Judaism, Israel, History

512 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1977

Reviews

[Kressel Housman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I chose this for my Elul/Tishrei reading because I felt that my usual fiction escapes weren't appropriate for the times, and I knew I'd give up in the middle if I tried a standard English mussar sefer. So I read a biography of a tzaddik, which allows me to take inspiration from his example on my own level. What I didn't expect was how much history I'd learn along the way. Reb Aryeh Levin regularly visited the political prisoners in pre-state Israel, and the way he honored them is something we can all learn from. This goes beyond the Zionist/anti-Zionist question. He acted 100% out of love for his fellow Jew. Differences in religiousity and ideology just didn't matter. That was a great lesson for Yom Kippur. If he could treat hardened criminals with honor (he visited them, too), then surely I coud forgive whatever slights I've suffered from friends and family this year.

In reading this book, I couldn't help but compare it with All for the Boss, which I also gave a 5. I'm tempted to reduce my rating to a 4 because I loved this one so much more. Rabbi Herman of All for the Boss is someone you can admire, but Reb Aryeh is someone to admire and love. Then it occurred to me: Rabbi Herman is gevurah while Reb Aryeh is chessed. Rabbi Herman was in liberal America, the "medina of chessed" while Reb Aryeh lived in the harsher conditions of the Land of Israel. America needed Rabbi Herman's uncompromising gevurah, and Israel needed Reb Aryeh's softness and chessed. Both were tzaddikim in their times, and they provided the Jewish people the kind of leadership needed for their respective situations.

[Chava · Rating 4 out of 5]

My rabbi strongly suggested that everyone should read this book to learn what it means to be humble and do mitzvahs. It sounds a little corny, but Rabbi Aryeh Levin was the epitome or humility and good will towards others. The biography showed how these traits were the key to his greatness.

Lo, that we could aspire to a fraction of humility, grace, and love for other people. An inspirational book with short anecdotes make it easy to read at your own pace.

[Yehudis Esther · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed hearing all these stories of how one person can strive to do so much for people, and how he can find so many opportunities to go out of his way without showing any sign of feeling inconvenienced at all. It was so encouraging and so inspiring. One of my Rebbetzens uses this book as the textbook on Bein Adam L'Chavero, and I can see why.

[Ayelet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great stories about a truly amazing person. It also teaches you about life in Jerusalem during that period.

[Shoshanah Shear · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very inspiring book. It became even more meaningful for me when I met the grandson of Rav Aryeh, Rabbi Benji Levin

I highly recommend this book.