R. Aryeh • Father of the Prisoners • Rabbi of the Prisoners • Aryeh Leib Levin
Rabbi Aryeh Levin
Recent GenerationsRabbi Aryeh Levin was a Jerusalem spiritual mentor and man of boundless kindness, renowned as one of the great exemplars of moral refinement and benevolence in the Old Yishuv and in the early years of the State of Israel. He became known as the “Father of the Prisoners” because o…
Biography
Rabbi Aryeh Levin was a Jerusalem spiritual mentor and man of boundless kindness, renowned as one of the great exemplars of moral refinement and benevolence in the Old Yishuv and in the early years of the State of Israel. He became known as the “Father of the Prisoners” because of his regular visits to members of the Jewish underground imprisoned by the British Mandate authorities, including those sentenced to death. In Jerusalem he was known simply as “R. Aryeh” — a name that became synonymous with warmth, humility, and love for every human being. His life was marked by extreme simplicity, modesty, and complete self-sacrifice for others, and he is regarded as one of the greatest ba'alei chesed of recent generations.
Life Story
Childhood
He was born in the town of Orla, near Bialystok, within the Pale of Settlement of the Russian Empire (now in Poland), on the 20th of Nisan 5645 (1885). His father, Binyamin Beynush, worked as a forester to support the family, and his mother, Ettil, managed the household. Even in childhood, he displayed extraordinary intellectual gifts and deep sensitivity to those around him. He was sent to study in several cities — Slutsk, Slonim, Brest, and Pinsk — and had to cope from a young age with being far from home, an experience that helped shape both his independence and his gentleness of spirit.
Teachers
Because of his young age, he was initially turned away from the famed Volozhin Yeshiva and instead went to study at the yeshiva in Halusk. After about a year, he was finally accepted to Volozhin, where he studied under Rabbi Raphael Shapiro, one of the heads of the yeshiva. Later in life, after immigrating to the Land of Israel, he became one of the distinguished disciples of Rabbi Abraham Isaac HaCohen Kook, who profoundly influenced his worldview and his relationship to the Land of Israel and the people of Israel. He also studied under Rabbi Shlomo Elyashiv.
Students
For many years he served as mashgiach at Etz Chaim Yeshiva in Jerusalem, thereby exerting a direct influence upon generations of students who passed through its halls. His humble bearing and distinctive style — combining personal stringency with a deep love for the Jewish people — left a lasting impression on his students, many of whom later became rabbis and educators in their own right.
Family
He married Tzipporah Chana, and the couple lived in the Mishkenot Yisrael neighborhood of Jerusalem. Their home was always open to the needy and to anyone in need of help, despite their own great poverty. R. Aryeh and his wife raised their children in an atmosphere of simplicity and devotion, serving as living examples of fine character through deed rather than sermon.
Key Events
He immigrated to the Land of Israel in Adar 5665 (1905), carrying a recommendation for work as a clerk at the Anglo-Palestine Bank. He first lived in Jaffa, and later moved to Jerusalem, where he studied at Torat Chaim Yeshiva. During the years of the British Mandate and the struggle for the establishment of the State, he volunteered to visit Jewish underground prisoners held in British jails, and from that time the title “Father of the Prisoners” became inseparably associated with him. He visited each prisoner, brought words of Torah and encouragement, and stood beside even those sentenced to death in their final moments.
Miracles
Many attributed acts of deliverance and healing to the power of his prayers and the merit of his deeds, yet R. Aryeh himself consistently refused any aura of sanctity or portrayal as a miracle worker. He always redirected attention away from himself and urged people to turn instead to the blessed Holy One. Numerous stories circulated about the efficacy of his blessing, but he remained humble and kept far from publicity.
Influence
The influence of R. Aryeh extended far beyond the circle of his direct students. He became a cultural symbol in Israel of pure kindness and love for one’s fellow human being. Public figures, rabbis, and intellectuals from across the spectrum saw in him a model of noble character. He was deeply respected even beyond Haredi circles, and many members of the underground maintained ties with him for many years after the establishment of the State.
Death
He passed away in Jerusalem on the 20th of Nisan 5729 (28 March 1969), at the age of 84. He was laid to rest in Sanhedria Cemetery in Jerusalem, beside his wife. His funeral was attended by multitudes from every sector of Jewish life, testimony to the affection so many bore him. After his passing, his memory continued to shine and to inspire acts of kindness in the spirit of his path.
Writings
Rabbi Aryeh Hayah Omer
Jewish thought and ethics
A collection of sayings, practices, and stories from the life of R. Aryeh Levin, gathered and edited after his passing by members of his family and his students. The book serves as a kind of spiritual testament, reflecting his approach to life, education, and love of one’s fellow human being.
Mishnat Aryeh
Ethics and conduct
A work that gathers his Torah teachings and modes of conduct, reflecting R. Aryeh’s unique path in the cultivation of character and in his relationship to others.
His Way and Views
Torah Study
R. Aryeh regarded Torah study as the foundation of human existence, yet he emphasized that study alone is not enough — it must find expression in action and in character. He encouraged his students to learn with depth and perseverance, while preserving humility and guarding themselves against pride.
Halacha
He was meticulous in observance of both minor and major matters alike, yet his approach to halakhah was suffused with kindness of countenance and sensitivity to human reality. He believed that a person should be strengthened, not crushed, and that one should rule leniently rather than stringently where there was room to do so.
Faith
His faith was simple and natural, like that of a child leaning upon his father. He saw Divine providence in every detail of life and taught that one must trust in God even in difficult times.
Ethics
The cultivation of character stood at the heart of his path. He believed that love of others is not merely a beautiful sentiment but a practical obligation, and he sought to see in every person — Jew and non-Jew alike — a being created in the Divine image.
Customs
He conducted himself with great simplicity and extraordinary modesty. He sought no honors, refused to accept gifts, and preferred to sit quietly in a corner. He was careful to honor every person, and would rise from his place for the elderly and for ordinary folk alike.
Character
His humility was legendary. He refused every title of honor and did not allow people to praise him in his presence. When others came to extol him, he would redirect the conversation to another subject or answer with quiet modesty.
Public Role
He volunteered to visit members of the underground in prison, bringing them words of encouragement and spiritual support, and stood beside those condemned to death in their final moments. He saw this as a holy mission and spared neither effort nor time. He also worked on behalf of Jerusalem’s poor and the sick, regularly visiting patients in hospitals.
Famous Quotes
"Tell me about one Jew — and I will tell you how good he is."
"I do not understand charity — I merely pass the money from one hand to another."
"Every Jew is precious, and I have no right to decide who is more precious."
Famous Stories
On one occasion, when he entered a Mandate prison to visit inmates, one of the British wardens asked him how he could endanger himself by coming to see prisoners sentenced to death. R. Aryeh replied simply: “They are Jews, and they are alone. Who will visit them if not I?” The warden was left astonished by an answer at once so simple and so profound.
Once, a wealthy man came to him wishing to donate a large sum to charity. R. Aryeh accepted the money and immediately distributed it to the poor who were nearby. When he was asked why he had not kept some of it for his own needs, he replied: “What have I to do with this money? It was never meant for me in the first place, but for them.”
On the night before the execution of Moshe Barazani and Meir Feinstein, R. Aryeh remained with them until the small hours of the night. He refused to leave, despite the danger and the prohibition. He studied with them and strengthened their spirits, teaching them how to accept the Divine decree with love. When he parted from them, the two men told him that his words had given them the strength to face their self-sacrifice. They were executed the following day, and R. Aryeh was left with the painful memory, yet also with the knowledge that he had fulfilled his mission to the very end.
Students
Teachers
Grave Site
Timeline
Born in Orla, Poland (Russian Empire)
Immigrated to the Land of Israel and settled in Jerusalem
Began serving as mashgiach at Etz Chaim Yeshiva
Began visiting underground prisoners in British jails
Accompanied Moshe Barazani and Meir Feinstein before their execution
Received the State Fighters' Decoration for his work on behalf of underground prisoners
Passed away in Jerusalem at the age of 84 and was buried in Sanhedria Cemetery
Legacy
The legacy of R. Aryeh Levin is one of pure kindness and boundless love for others. His figure became an enduring symbol of the Jerusalem man of chesed, and the stories told about him continue to inspire generations of educators and charitable activists. He was held in great esteem across the full spectrum of Jewish life and received the State Fighters' Decoration for his work on behalf of underground prisoners. His home in the Mishkenot Yisrael neighborhood became a place of pilgrimage, and his grave in Sanhedria Cemetery continues to draw many visitors who come to pray and honor his memory.