Auction 48 Rare and Important Items
Dec 2, 2015 (Your local time)
Israel
 8 Ramban St, Jerusalem.
The auction has ended

LOT 54:

Letter of Inspiration by Rebbe "HaMalach", Rabbi Avraham Chaim Duber HaCohen, to his Son Rabbi Refael Zalman Levine

Sold for: $2,000
Start price:
$ 2,000
Auction house commission: 23%
VAT: On commission only
tags:

Long letter of Kabbalistic and Chassidic inspiration, handwritten and signed by Rebbe "Avraham Chaim Duber HaCohen" Levine, to his son Rabbi Refael Zalman. [Without location or date].
Words of inspiration pertaining to man's purpose in this world, strengthening Torah study and abstention from Bitul Torah.
"My dear son Refael Zalman… the factors that prevent Torah study… love of idleness and self-centered desire are found in most young people and even in elderly people. It is very difficult to remove (these obstacles), especially to those who have become accustomed to them from youth…".
Rebbe Chaim Avraham Dov HaCohen Levine (died in New York in 1938, Encyclopedia Le'Chassidut Vol. 1 p. 566), disciple of the Maharash (Rebbe Shmuel Schneerson), studied under the disciples of his father, the Tzemach Tzedek. He immigrated to the USA and managed his court in the synagogue Nusach HaAri in the Bronx. He led his Chassidim to serve G-d in the same manner Chassidim served him for hundreds of years. On Shabbat and on Festivals, he entirely abstained from sleep and was immersed in G-d's service the entire Shabbat. At times he would not talk for more than 10 hours and would stand in deep meditation (service of the soul during which all thoughts and senses are concentrated on G-d).
Young men surrounded him and hovered in his presence. They were referred to as "the Malachim (angels)" named after their Rebbe Avraham “HaMalach” and they stood out in their extreme Chassidism and abstention, in their different attire and long tzitziyot. They studied only from Slavita and Zhitomir printings of the Talmud, and had other customs that were disapproved of by American yeshiva leaders. After the death of the rebbe, Rabbi Ya’akov Schorr brother of Rabbi Gedalya Schorr of Torah V’Da’at headed the group of “Malachim”. His writings were published anonymously in the book Otzar Igrot Kodesh (Jerusalem, 1952) with the author described as “Echad [acronym of Avraham Chaim Dov] of the special people of his times… a rabbi who is similar to an angel of G-d”.
His son Rabbi Refael Zalman HaCohen Levine, studied with his holy father the entire Sefer HaTanya when he was only eleven or twelve years old. He was later the disciple of Rabbi Baruch Ber Leibowitz at the Knesset Beit Yitzchak Yeshiva in Vilnius. When Rabbi Baruch Ber visited the USA, he stayed at Rabbi Refael Zalman’s home in Albany for ten days and many stories are told about this visit. [See MiPihem U’Mipi Kotvam, Vol. 2 pp. 97, 142-144].
3 pages, 21 cm. Approximately 46 handwritten lines. Good condition.
This letter was not printed in Otzar Igrot Kodesh.