A Fiery Holy Letter from the Angelic Rebbe, the Gaon and Tzaddik, Rabbi Chaim Avraham DovBer Levin, zt”l
A letter of guidance from the saintly gaon known as the Malach, zt”l, addressed to his son, Rav Refael Zalman, z”l—a letter that burns like a fiery flame, igniting his son’s heart to toil in Torah and not to fall into the cunning snares of the yetzer hara.
The letter begins with affectionate expressions of a father to his son:
"My beloved, my dear friend, my precious son, Refael Zalman, sheyichyeh, I received your letter at this very moment. I see it necessary to respond to you, for this matter touches upon the very soul—down to its deepest core…”
A small sampling of the treasures found in this holy letter, which overflows with words of guidance and mussar:
"One must simply toil—with mind and heart, with body and soul."
"An excess of words and unnecessary thoughts completely dull the Jewish sensitivity—especially the feeling for Torah and yiras Shamayim—for it makes one coarse and even coarser."
He concludes:
"I am a true friend to you, and remember well what your duty is. You now stand at the threshold of your life’s path."
"I remain, your father, who seeks your peace and welfare always,
Chaim Avraham DovBer HaKohen
Tuesday, Parshas Eikev"
"P.S. Your wife, my daughter-in-law, Fruma Sarah, tichyeh, sends regards."
This letter was published in Otzar Igros Kodesh, Letter 127 (with several lines omitted).
About the Author of the Letter
The holy gaon and tzaddik, Rabbi Chaim Avraham DovBer HaKohen Levin, zt”l—one of the elite talmidim of the
Rebbe Maharash of Lubavitch—was a saintly individual, a chassid and a perush, and a gaon of exceptional caliber. He was known as “Der Malach” (The Angel) due to his exalted level of avodas Hashem.
After arriving in America, he founded Beis Medrash and Yeshiva Nesivos Olam, gathering around him a select group of bochurim and avreichim who dedicated their lives entirely to Torah and avodah. With fiery zeal and unwavering devotion, they guarded every kotz v’kotz of Yiddishkeit, Torah, and Chassidus—so much so that they became known to the world as "The Malachim" (The Angels).
He was niftar in The Bronx, New York, on Shavuos 5698 (1938).
About His Son, Rav Refael Zalman HaKohen Levin
His son, the chassid Rav Refael Zalman HaKohen Levin, zt”l, was a child prodigy. By the age of 11–12, his saintly father had already learned the entire Sefer Tanya with him. As a bochur, he learned under Rabbi Boruch Ber Leibowitz in Knesses Beis Yitzchak during its Vilna period and was granted semichah l’horaah u’l’dayanus by him.
During Rav Boruch Ber’s stay in America, he spent approximately ten days as a guest in his beloved talmid’s home in Albany.
