How Gratitude and Prayer Built a Torah Legacy

The late Rabbi Aryeh Levin, was known as a humble tzaddik (righteous man) who merited something extraordinary—many dozens of descendants who shine brightly in the world of Torah. Among them are some of the greatest Torah leaders of recent generations: Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, Rabbi Yitzchak Zilberstein, and many more, dedicated Torah scholars who study day and night.

In a rare moment of personal reflection, Rabbi Aryeh once shared a secret with his son, Rabbi Simcha Shlomo Levin. “I feel joy that I had the privilege to learn Torah even when I was extremely poor and had to live through hard times,” he said. “I believe that because of this, I was granted sons and descendants who are Torah scholars and great leaders.”

In one of his heartfelt letters to another son, Rabbi Chaim Yaakov, Rabbi Aryeh wrote: “Blessed is Hashem, and blessed is His name, that I merited true kavod (honor)—to see my descendants become Torah leaders. This is the truest honor, both in this world and in the World to Come. I don’t believe I earned this on my own merit. It must be because of the righteousness of your dear mother—and perhaps a little because of me too. From my youth, I went after Torah wherever I could find it. I followed the path of ‘eat bread with salt and sleep on the ground’—a saying from Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers) teaching us to live simply to pursue Torah. Even when I didn’t have proper shoes or clothes and couldn’t leave the house to get food, I never complained. I accepted everything with joy. Maybe this helped me.”

Rabbi Aryeh continued in the letter, “I pray to Hashem from the depths of my heart, and sometimes with tears, just as it says, ‘Prayer is more beloved to Hashem than all good deeds and sacrifices.’ As the sage Rabbi Yehuda Alharizi wrote in his book Tachkemoni, ‘When is prayer heard? When the eye sheds tears and the soul is humbled.’ I ask Hashem again and again, please don’t remove Your kindness from me or my children. Please let Torah always remain with us and our descendants.”

And indeed, that heartfelt request was answered. A large part of the Torah world today is built on the foundation of Rabbi Aryeh’s merit—thanks to his deep emunah (faith), his righteous wife, and his constant gratitude, even in the hardest times. He didn’t complain. He asked Hashem to keep the Torah alive in his home, and that prayer was fulfilled.

Each of us faces difficulties at different points in life. But may we learn from Rabbi Aryeh’s example. Instead of becoming bitter or angry, may we use those moments to turn to Hashem in prayer, from a place of humility and longing. That’s when tefillah (prayer) is most powerful—when our eyes shed tears and our hearts are open. And in those moments, may we remember to ask for the most important blessing of all: “That the Torah should never depart from our mouths, and from the mouths of our children, and our children’s children—forever.”