Lengthy letter (3 pages) handwritten and signed by the "Tzaddik of Jerusalem" R. Aryeh Levin. Jerusalem, "Sunday, 31st of the Omer" [16th Iyar, May] 1929.
Addressed to his prospective son-in-law, the young R. Yosef Shalom Elyashiv. The letter begins with poetic blessings: "May G-d increase peace [Yosif Shalom] and consolation to my dear… son-in-law-to-be, of holy descent, well-praised, who stands as a banner of pride and glory among the Jewish people… R. Yosef Shalom Elyashov…". R. Aryeh goes on to recount how he visited his father's home on Friday to release him from a vow, and how he didn't want to disturb him in the middle of his Torah study "in an attractive voice, both powerful and pleasant". R. Aryeh Levin goes on to apologize and praise his father, Rabbi of Gomel, who received him kindly and patiently (in the middle of Shabbat preparations, after the model of Hillel the Elder), when having forgotten his halachic question he began conversing with him on non-halachic topics that are not urgent on a Friday afternoon:
"G-d guided me on the streets of Meah Shearim for some mitzvah on Erev Shabbat… and I decided to visit the home of my master, the Tzaddik R. Avraham, your father, to release me from the custom I had practiced up to that point, when from afar I heard 'a voice on high', an attractive voice, both powerful and pleasant, 'the voice of G-d in strength', the voice of the Torah. 'Your voice', my spirit and soul, 'I heard, and I was fearful for I was naked and I hid'. My heart was taken captive by the voice. I excitedly entered the courtyard and knocked on the door. 'Who's there?'… Your father clothed himself and came out towards me. 'What do you seek?' 'I have a question to ask'. 'Ask, my son, ask'. 'What is this voice… [of angels] ascending and descending?' Of course, a question such as this necessitates such patience… as that of Hillel. And I forgot to what end I had come to the home of your father R. Avraham… The conversation meandered… and the timing, afternoon of Erev Shabbat, made us shorten the conversation and separate from your father the Tzaddik, with heartfelt greetings to you, my dear. I have the honor of sending you a greeting in writing, since I did not merit to see you face to face, and I am happy because of this… With great love and eternal love, Aryeh Levin".
In a postscript after his signature, R. Aryeh Levin offers Torah thoughts (on the topics of agency and stipulations), with an additional comment on the high esteem his teacher R. Isser Zalman Meltzer had for R. Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, and his comment on the prospective son-in-law's Torah thoughts, in a letter addressed to him: "…I forgot to send you greetings from my teacher… R. Isser Zalman. When I showed him the noble beauty of your Torah novellae, he was very happy with your words, and he later sent me in writing a short comment on what you said…".
The Tzaddik of Jerusalem, R. Aryeh Levin (1885-1969), excelled in Torah and in charitable deeds. He served as the spiritual director and supervisor of the Etz Chaim Torah school. An alumnus of Lithuanian yeshivot Hlusk, Slutsk, Volozhin and the Torat Chaim yeshiva in Jerusalem, he was a cherished disciple of the leading Torah scholars of the generation: R. Refael Shapiro of Volozhin, R. Chaim Berlin, R. Shlomo Elyashiv the Leshem, R. Baruch Ber Leibowitz, R. Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook, his brother-in-law R. Tzvi Pesach Frank and R. Yitzchak Ze'ev Soloveitchik of Brisk. He immigrated to Jerusalem in his youth and married the granddaughter of the head of the Jerusalem Beit Din, R. Chaim Yaakov Shapira.
He was renowned for his devotion to acts of benevolence. He was a beloved friend to one and all, wholeheartedly sharing the difficulties and joys of his brethren. The "hidden tzaddik" concealed his knowledge of Talmud and Mishnah, his wide-ranging expertise and his learning as a Lithuanian yeshiva alumnus and elite disciple of R. Baruch Ber Leibowitz. Three parts of his comprehensive Mishnah commentary, Mishnat Aryeh, were published in 2011-2013, after nearly a century of concealment. R. Aryeh's will self-effacingly denies expertise "even in a chapter of Mishnah" – despite his voluminous Mishnah commentary. His son-in-law, R. Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, in his approbation to Mishnat Aryeh, writes of "my father-in-law R. Aryeh Levin, who humbly disguised and concealed his Torah greatness…".
When the eminent kabbalist R. Shlomo Elyashov, the Leshem (1841-1926), immigrated to Jerusalem, R. Aryeh Levin attended to and studied with him constantly; after his passing, his family permitted him to print a biographical account of R. Shlomo Elyashov (first published as an appendix to Leshem Shevo VeAchlamah – Beurim, printed in Jerusalem immediately after the author's passing). In 1929, R. Aryeh's daughter Rebbetzin Chayah became engaged to R. Yosef Shalom Elyashiv – the Leshem's beloved grandson, and the wedding was held a year later, in late Adar 1930.
The recipient of the letter, R. Yosef Shalom Elyashiv (1910-2012), only son of R. Avraham, a rabbi in Gomel (son-in-law of the Leshem), and son-in-law of the Tzaddik of Jerusalem, R. Aryeh Levin. From 1943, he served in his father's office as rabbi of Tiferet Bachurim and posek in the Meah Shearim neighborhood. Over the course of some twenty years, he served as a senior dayan in Eretz Israel, retiring in the early 1970s (when non-halachic reasoning was introduced into the court system). Over his last twenty years, he led the Torah world in Eretz Israel and beyond. R. Elyashiv was a leading posek for over seventy years. He was known for his exceptional diligence and his deep, fundamental understanding of all parts of the Torah, enabling him to provide clear rulings on every issue. His Torah novellae were published by his disciples in his Hearot on the Talmud, compiled from his lectures, and hundreds of his thousands of responsa were compiled in his six-part Kovetz Teshuvot.
[1] double leaf (3 written pages). Approx. 21 cm. Good-fair condition. Wear and folding marks. Tears to folds and margins, not affecting text.
The present letter was first published in part in the Torah periodical Tzohar (IV, Jerusalem, 1999, pp. 54-56), and later published in full in various places, including Kovetz Teshuvot (II, Jerusalem, 2003, section 189) and the memorial volume Tiferet Refael (Beit Shemesh, Cheshvan 2005, pp. 225-227).
