Grandson of R' Raphael Levine: 'I Peered into My Grandfather's Room and Couldn't Believe My Eyes'

This week marks the yahrzeit of Rabbi Raphael Levine z"l, the son of the righteous Rabbi Aryeh Levine. Fifteen years have passed since his passing in Iyar 5763, yet it seems that the immense messages he left behind continue to guide his descendants and everyone else onward.

His grandson, Aryeh Burstein (the son of his daughter), who was among the closest of his grandchildren, testifies to these things. "Grandpa passed away about fifteen years ago, at the age of seventy-seven," he says. "I was about 16 years old then, and the memories from those days never leave me.

"What characterized Grandpa more than anything was his humility, his connection to people. He had no personal assistants, he didn't consider himself important. He was great, a giant, but he never saw himself as such".

In fact, Burstein notes that outwardly, Rabbi Raphael did not resemble his father, Rabbi Aryeh Levine. His younger brother resembled him more, and until recent years, many people would come to him when they wanted to see 'what R' Aryeh Levine looked like in our generation.' But in terms of conduct, he was certainly considered to carry on his father's path.

'Good News Is Shared Even in the Middle of the Night'

Aryeh continues sharing stories about his revered grandfather: "Grandpa often told us about his father – R' Aryeh Levine. He told us that every year, during the High Holy Days, his father would send him and his brother to blow the Shofar at the leper hospital in Jerusalem near the Russian Compound. It was a great health risk to go to that hospital because of the contagious diseases there, but his father took responsibility and sent his sons. Even after R' Aryeh Levine passed away, Grandpa continued to visit the sick, prisoners, and lepers".

Over the years, R' Raphael Levine was considered an outstanding Torah scholar and was close to great rabbis, including the head of Etz Chaim Yeshiva, Rabbi Isser Zalman Meltzer. But alongside his extensive learning, he would also receive people, to bless them, listen to them, and help them.

"As a small child, I remember being present at some of these conversations and was simply amazed when I heard how Grandpa would hardly say anything during the reception, mainly listening, and in the end, of course, blessing. His listening was so apt, it's exactly what one would call with modern words – 'a psychologist'".

Incidentally, Burstein says his grandfather once approached Rabbi Elyashiv zt"l (a relative of his) and asked him: "Many people bother me, and I want to learn Torah". "Rabbi Elyashiv replied: 'There are many Torah scholars, but righteous individuals who influence the generation and give blessings, there are not many.' And thus, he essentially ruled that he should devote his time to the public. But of course, Grandpa also learned a lot and persevered for long hours. This is basically what he did throughout the day".

Burstein notes that his grandfather received many names for prayer and healing from people, and some doubted whether he was really able to pray for everyone, as they numbered in the masses. "Someone one day followed him and inserted a hidden camera through the synagogue window. He later watched the video and saw Grandpa approaching the Ark, where he recited Tehillim for hours, mentioning each name individually. He didn't take anyone lightly and would also distribute coins to the blessed to give to charity.

"What was special about Grandpa," he adds, "was that whenever someone received a blessing from him, he would part with them by saying: 'Come to bring good news'. He wouldn't even entertain the possibility of not having good news, and he emphasized: 'Good news is shared at all hours of the day'. Because of this, people would come to bring him news at unusual times, and he was always happy to receive them".

How did he find time for all the people reaching out to him?

"I too keep asking myself this question, and I don't really know how to answer. It was mainly at the expense of his personal time and sleep hours," explains Burstein, also providing an example: "Grandpa always used to sing all the Shabbat songs – from beginning to end. But often, in the middle of the meal, people would come and sit with him until the middle of the night, so he had to postpone part of the night's songs to the morning, and in the morning, things repeated, so he postponed the songs to the third meal and afterward to Melaveh Malkah. Thus, he sometimes sang all the songs on Saturday night. The most amazing thing was seeing him on the Saturday night of the month of Elul, when they began saying Selichot. He would sit and sing all the songs, then maybe sleep for an hour and a half and jump up to get ready for Selichot. He didn’t compromise with himself on anything".

The Tale of an Amulet

Rabbi Raphael Levine, Burstein's grandfather, was known for being among the last to carry the tradition of performing the Gr'a's lot (a lot done by opening a Tanakh randomly and linking the verses on the opened page to the question at hand. Only great Torah scholars are authorized to perform it).

Is it really true, your grandfather dealt with such lots?

"Yes," he replies, "but Grandpa only performed the Gr'a's lot when presented with truly difficult questions and when there was a genuine need. Grandpa once told me about one of the lots he performed – there was an older bachelor who hadn't married. At some point, someone suggested a match to him that in terms of compatibility fit him well, but she was a full-figured girl, and this bothered him. On the other hand, he was getting older and didn't want to remain alone. So, he turned to Grandpa for advice, and Grandpa performed a Gr'a's lot for him in which the verse appeared: 'As he has placed a blemish in a man, so shall it be placed in him.' This really illustrated the answer for him – not to pay attention to the external 'blemish' but to proceed with the match.

"Grandpa also had a certain whisper that he would say, a kind of special prayer near the mezuzah. He would use it when people came to be blessed by him on various matters. He would ask them to stay in the living room and then go to his room, place his hand on the mezuzah, and whisper something for about twenty minutes. Afterward, he would take a kippah or another object so the blessing would have something to rest on and ask people to take it with them.

"Grandpa possessed an amulet he received from Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin. This amulet went through many hands before reaching Rabbi Aryeh Levine and from him to my grandfather. The amulet was a segulah for an easy birth and was known in Jerusalem twenty years ago that every couple going to give birth would take this amulet with them. It was also known that inside the amulet there was a parchment with a name that must not be opened, and whoever opened it would die.

"One day there was a man who took the amulet and kept it in his jacket. It was a hot day, and during his taxi ride, he took off the jacket. Apparently, the amulet somehow fell out, and this man informed my grandmother in great discomfort that he couldn't find it. The anxiety was great, all the family knew how important and dear the amulet was to Grandpa. The man who lost it didn't know what to do with himself and ran around to all the taxis in Jerusalem looking for the amulet. Eventually, my mother and grandmother informed Grandpa about what happened, and his calm response amazed everyone: 'The amulet's duration was a hundred years, and now it's ended. Even if it hadn’t been lost, it would have stopped having an effect or disappeared in another way. Because it's already expired'."

A Loving Grandpa

"Grandpa was very careful with the respect of every person," adds Aryeh, "he would often meet with Rabbi Elyashiv. Each time he would bring him candies for his grandchildren, chat with him, and learn with him. Once, Grandpa expressed to Rabbi Elyashiv a great concern – he told him that one day he was praying in the synagogue, and one of the worshippers asked to turn off the fan. Since the fan was high, he took a prayer book and used it to press the button. Grandpa was appalled to his core and rebuked the man: 'This is a holy book; it's not a hammer'. Later, he asked Rabbi Elyashiv if he acted correctly, and the rabbi replied: 'You did well'."

Personally, as a grandson, what do you remember about him?

"I just remember him as a good, loving grandfather, always close to us with all his soul. He cared for us both spiritually and materially. For example: He always had in his cabinet many chocolates from 'Vered HaGalil' that he would distribute to people who came to him and also enjoyed them himself (Grandpa used to quote: 'A person will have to answer for what his eyes saw and did not eat'), one day I told him I was collecting the empty wrappers because there was some promotion, and since then he kept them for me meticulously, even when he distributed chocolates, he asked them to return the wrappers to him. I ended up having so many wrappers that when I got to the promo vehicle, they asked me if I hadn't stolen them..."

And there was also the spiritual concern: "There is a sentence Grandpa said to me that I will never forget," notes Burstein with excitement. "It was after one of the great millionaires came to him and gave a check as a donation. Grandpa placed the check under his books and left to accompany the man as he always escorted every guest. At that moment, my curiosity got the better of me, and I ran to check what was written on the check. The problem was that by the time I found the check and put the books back, Grandpa had returned and saw what I was doing. I was so frightened, I was sure I would get a scolding. But Grandpa took me aside and said: 'Aryeh, know that throughout my life I worked on two traits until I completely broke them – the trait of anger and the trait of curiosity. And it wasn't easy at all; it was a life's work. I recommend you start working on your curiosity trait today'.

"I also heard Grandpa tell Grandma several times: 'Aryeh is a good boy', and that made me feel very good and motivated me to study and prove myself. By the way, Grandma passed away exactly ten years after Grandpa, also on the same date. She was a very righteous and special woman. After his passing, she recorded a personal eulogy for him, which she would listen to from time to time while crying. This was her way of mourning".

Burstein emphasizes that the stories about his grandfather are many and too numerous to tell them all. "As I said initially, Grandpa passed away fifteen years ago, but we feel like he left behind so many messages, and we are left to implement them. May we succeed".