LEVINE, CHAIM ABRAHAM DOV-BER HAKOHEN (“THE MALACH”)

(CHASSIDISM).

Erev Shabbath Kodesh Noach

New York

1932

Autograph Letter Signed, in Yiddish interspersed with Hebrew, to his son Raphael Zalman: "Since a father has great love and pity for his son...I am again calling upon you to make peace. Perhaps you will concentrate on the truth...get rid of the defilement of the "kelipah"of the Tzadukim [Saducees]...of your own self-righteousness...If you listen to me, you will be successfull and triumphant in both worlds...The source of true joy is to be careful not to be idle and waste time, just as one is careful and watches oneself from death...Do not fool yourself, life is only Torah learning…If you are honest with yourself, you will certainly find the time to study, if not, especially where you live, Judaism can disappear...Be careful not to look at women - even your own wife...do not talk too much with her...On the Sabbath, study without pause 6-7 hours and "lehavdil," on Sunday as well, you can learn the entire day...”

R. Chaim Abraham Dov-Ber ben Shneur Zalman Levine ("The Malach") (1861-1938), a native of Ilya (Belarus), was one of the foremost Chassidim of Lubavitch. He was engaged by the fifth Rebbe, R. Shalom Ber Schneersohn (Rasha"b)(1860-1920) as private tutor to his only son R. Joseph Isaac (1880-1950), who would eventually succeed his father as Rebbe. However, the relationship suffered a severe rupture when the Malach was outraged that his young charge allegedly displayed interests outside of his Torah studies. A rift developed between the parties and from then on, the Malach regarded the contemporary leadership of Chabad as illegitimate, restricting his loyalty to the earlier generations of the dynasty. In 1923, Rabbi Levine emigrated to America where he served a congregation in the Bronx. R. Shraga Feivel Mendlowitz, principal of Yeshiva Torah Vodaas, sent some of the students to study Chassidism with Rabbi Levine. The Malach had a mesmerizing effect, influencing these American-born youngsters to reject anything resembling Western lifestyle, and to devote themselves exclusively to Torah. This contingent of followers of the Malach (who became known as the "Malachim") eventually created their own community in the Williamsburgh section of Brooklyn. See further B. Sobel, The M'lochim, A Study of a Religious Community (1956)