Through Fire and Water – With the Tzaddik: Parting with Rabbi Avihu Levi zt”l

“I TOLD THEM: BE CAREFUL WITH YOURSELVES.  THIS IS A RIGHTEOUS MAN!  IF YOU JUST MERIT RECEIVING A BLESSING FROM HIM, YOUR LIVES WILL BE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT!”

A MAN OF KINDNESS, TORAH, AND NOBLE VIRTUE – A PILLAR OF TORAH AND FEAR OF HEAVEN IN THE DIASPORA: A FAREWELL TO RABBI AVIHU LEVI ZT”L

Today, Tuesday, the 29th of Iyar, Rabbi Avihu Levi zt”l -- one of the most prominent spiritual figures to emerge from the Musrara neighborhood and who became a central pillar of a Jewish community overseas – will be laid to rest in Jerusalem.  Rabbi Levi served as the rabbi of the Sephardic community of Johannesburg for a period of close to five decades.  With his quiet yet resolute personality, his sincerity and love for others that radiated from him, he succeeded in uniting hearts, drawing close the distant, and building a vibrant, thriving community under the difficult conditions of exile.

The Jewish community in Israel and the diaspora bow their heads at the passing of the Gaon Rabbi Avihu Levi zt”l, one of the outstanding students of Rabbi Yehuda Tzadka zt”l, and a true man of spiritual ascent, who devoted his live to spreading Torah, strengthening Judaism, and drawing Jews closer to Torah, with the greatest self-sacrifice.

Hundreds and thousands knew him not only as a rabbi and halachic authority, but also as a compassionate father, guide, and man of truth, whose every path was peace, and whose every word came from pure fear of Heaven.  Through his humble yet firm approach, he succeeded in building a glorious community, preserving traditions, and raising up students to continue into the future – even in a place where many struggle to keep a life of Torah.

With characteristic modesty, he served in every role that required his heart and energy – ritual slaughterer, mohel, cantor, halachic instructor, and community rabbi – but above all, he was a spiritual father to tens and hundreds, for whom he was the only visible light.  Now, with his passing, his students, friends, and community members are left behind broken, but full of gratitude for the merit they had to walk beside him.

AMONG THE PILLARS OF JOHANNESBURG JEWRY – AND ONE OF THE FIRST TO SUPPORT THE PERSECUTED TZADDIK, EVEN WHEN ALL WERE SILENT

Yet Rabbi Avihu Levi zt”l was not defined solely by his wide-ranging public activities, but also by rare spiritual courage.  At a time when many were confused by a wave of rumors and false slanders, Rabbi Avihu stood in the breach, and remained loyal with all his strength to the Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit”a.  When the Tzaddik was persecuted and forced to exile himself from his land, Johannesburg was one of his stops – and there he found a warm home and listening ear in the figure of Rabbi Avihu, who paid no attention to the lies and stood like a fortified wall around the holy man of God.

In a special interview that was published in the “Knishta Chada” bulletin (Issue 34), Rabbi Avihu related with unusual candor:

“WHEN THE RAV CAME THE LAST TIME, WE WERE IN A PRIVATE HOME HERE, AND IT WAS LIKE MAGNETIC FIRE.  EVERYONE HANDED HIM A NOTE, A KVITTEL (A REQUEST FOR PRAYERS), AND ALSO A PIDYON (REDEMPTION), AND ANOTHER PIDYON…THEY BEGAN TO PRAY MA’ARIV, AND WHAT A PRAYER!  MAMASH LIKE YOM KIPPUR!  EVERYONE LOOKED AT THE RAV AND AWAITED HIM – AND JUST SEEING AND BASKING IN THE RADIANCE OF THE SHECHINAH (DIVINE PRESENCE) OF THE TZADDIK WAS ENOUGH…”

He described how in moments of truth, also before immigration authorities, he stood tall to defend the honor of the Tzaddik:

“I TOLD THEM: BE CAREFUL WITH YOURSELVES.  THIS IS A RIGHTEOUS MAN!  IF YOU JUST MERIT RECEIVING A BLESSING FROM HIM, YOUR LIVES WILL BE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT!”

A RABBI WHO WORKED FOR YEARS TO PRESERVE THE SEPHARDIC TRADITION, WHO BUILT INSTITUTIONS AND STRENGTHENED THE MASSES, ALSO KNEW HOW TO RECOGNIZE THE CLEAR TRUTH AND FIGHT FOR IT WITH SELF-SACRIFICE.  ALSO IN UNEXPECTED EVENTS, SUCH AS A WEDDING THAT CAME UP THROUGH WONDROUS DIVINE PROVIDENCE, RABBI AVIHU WAS THERE – TO SUPPORT, STRENGTHEN, AND TO WITNESS MIRACLES WITH HIS OWN EYES.

A LEGACY THAT REMAINED ETCHED IN HEARTS

Rabbi Avihu Levi zt”l left no sons behind, but his passing leaves behind a deep void in the hearts of all who merited to know him -- his local community, his many students, families who still recount with wonder key moments of blessing, prayer, or a kind word from him – and of course, among Breslov Chasidim, who can’t forget his steadfast support for the Tzaddik in times of distress.

Rabbi Avihu’s generation is getting smaller and smaller – a generation that knew the meaning of true loyalty, self-sacrifice, and a pure viewpoint without vested interest.  But his work endures.  The homes that he built, the souls that he strengthened, that tradition that he passed on, and his great love for Torah, for Am Yisrael, and for Tzaddikim continue to beat strong even after him.

MAY HIS MEMORY BE BLESSED – AND MAY HIS SOUL BE BOUND UP IN THE BOND OF LIFE TOGETHER WITH ALL TRUE TZADDIKIM, AMEN.