Manuscript, "Dream Diary" of Rabbi Aryeh Levin and Personal Notes

Manuscript, "Dream Diary" of Rabbi Aryeh Levin and Personal Notes

Personal notebook handwritten by R. Aryeh Levin, the Tzaddik of Jerusalem, including his dream diary and various notes. [Jerusalem, 1930s to ca. 1960s].
The notebook, entirely handwritten by R. Aryeh Levin (in tiny script), comprises records of his dreams (11 pages - most of the notebook) and notes on other topics.
The earliest dream is dated 1928, yet it seems that the dreams were recorded in this notebook after 1936. In some of his dreams, R. Aryeh met Torah leaders such as R. Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook, R. Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld, the Chazon Ish, R. Tzvi Pesach Frank, R. Isser Zalman Meltzer and R. Yechiel Michel Tucazinsky.
R. Aryeh Levin records a terrifying dream he had on Chanukah 1927, following which he undertook a Taanit Chalom (fast following a bad dream). Later in the day, he met R. Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook and related the dream to him. The latter interpreted it positively and blessed him. When parting, R. Aryeh Levin tripped, breaking his new glasses. Rav Kook took it as a good sign and instructed him to break his fast and rejoice.
Most of the dreams pertain to funerals, eulogies, or meeting the deceased. He once dreamt that he met Rav Kook on Erev Yom Kippur (after the latter's passing) at a rabbinical conference in the great synagogue of Zichron Moshe, and was awed by his glowing countenance. When Rav Kook reminded him that there is a commandment to eat on this day, he answered that he was fully satiated just from seeing his holy appearance. Rav Kook responded in laughter that he must nevertheless eat since the requirement of eating on Erev Yom Kippur cannot be fulfilled through this pleasure.
The rest of the notebook contains various notes handwritten by R. Aryeh: dates of yahrzeits, addresses of acquaintances throughout the world, records of charity funds he was given to distribute, including money he received from R. Yechiel Michel Tucazinsky for the shoe repair fund for schoolboys (see below). Notebook, [13] leaves (approx. 20 written pages).
16 cm. Good condition. Stains. First and final leaves detached.

The Schoolboys' Tattered Shoes
A list with the names of many children who received money for shoe repairs is found on p. [13] of the present notebook, under the title: "Received from R. Yechiel Michel Tucazinsky, 5th Kislev 1939, for the shoe repair fund for schoolboys".
R. Aryeh Levin served as educational supervisor in the Etz Chaim boys' school in Jerusalem. Several stories have been recorded, portraying R. Aryeh Levin's great sensitivity to the suffering of the impoverished children under his care, and his concern for their torn shoes. He would notice how some children arrived to school hungry, in ragged trousers or with tattered shoes. He would discreetly hand them some money to buy shoes, sometimes in guise of a prize for their scholastic success, so as not to embarrass the parents.
The present notebook discloses that these were not isolated incidents of sensitivity and financial assistance to the schoolboys, rather an official fund dedicated to this cause, managed caringly and discretely by the Tzaddik of Jerusalem, R. Aryeh Levin.