Tribute to R' Yaakov Levitz ... a Friend of Din

by Rabbi Moshe Boylan

Klal Yisroel and the Olam HaTorah particularly were saddened by the petirah of Rav Yaakov Levitz zt”l, world renowned distributor of many Sifrei Kodesh. 

The niftar was a talmid of Rav Yisroel Zev Gustman zt”l, the famous Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Netzach Yisroel. He was also very mekurav to lhbc”l Rav Feivel Cohen Shlita, the author of the Badei HaShulchan series on many parts of Shulchan Aruch. 

It was truly appropriate that the niftar’s name was Yaakov, as he represented many of the middos tovos of Yaakov Avinu. One example was in his chashivus haTorah, which related to the middah of Yaakov Avinu, who was an Ish tam yosheiv ohalim. Besides learning in Yeshivos when he was young, even in his later years he was known for his love for Torah. He was a true Talmid Chochom. 

Of course, a parnasah, distributing seforim is a zechus for a person, as he is spreading Torah. {It is even said that the heilige Chofetz Chaim zt”l, who also would sell seforim, sometimes used to say the words (not the beracha) “Laasok beDivrei Torah” when he was involved in selling and distributing his seforim.} 

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Rabbanim mentioned that because the Torah Rav Levitz learned was so much part of his life, this is why he remembered it so well. Interestingly enough, it is said that this is why, in this week’s Sedrah, the Torah tells us how Yosef HaTzadik remembered the Torah he learned with Yaakov Avinu for 22 years (remembering that Eglah Arufah was the last thing he learned with Yaakov Avinu). Because Torah was so important to Yosef HaTzadik (who agav was similar to Yaakov Avinu in many regards), he was zoche to remember Torah so long, despite all the difficulties he went through in these 22 years! Torah is a Toras Chesed, and it is therefore so appropriate that someone so related to Torah was also so connected to Gemilus Chassadim. 

One example mentioned at the levayah was how the niftar had a large part of his house dedicated for his parents. When they were niftar, Rav Levitz could have rented this part of the house for thousands of dollars a year. He also could have used this space for his own mishpacha. Instead, the niftar dedicated this large part of his house for Gemilus Chassadim. Numerous Meshulachim and others in need of a space to stay in Flatbush were welcomed into the Levitz house, for no charge. Besides giving these people a free apartment to stay at (which is alone a great chesed), he felt that they were his responsibility. If they were collecting for a cause (for example raising money for marrying off a child) then this became his cause as well. The niftar would do his best to help these individuals raise the money they came here for, in addition to saving them the expenses of renting a place to stay. 

Many maspidim mentioned how the niftar represented the midah of Yaakov Avinu, who was known for emes (as the Pasuk refers to Emes LeYaakov). Rav Levitz was known for his emes, yashrus and ehrlichkeit, just like his namesake, Yaakov Avinu. {This is so important that one of the questions a person is asked after 120 years is whether he was honest in his business dealings.} Rav Levitz was also zoche to be maamid a mishpacha leshaim u’lesiferes, with chashuve Bnai Torah, and spouses of Bnai Torah. He also was moser nefesh to do his best to support the members of his mishpacha, and so many others, who were learning Torah in Yeshivos and Kollelim. We are mispalel that this should be the last korbon of the terrible mageifah, and that the zechus of the niftar, together with the zechus of all the great tzadikim and tzidkanios taken during this tekufah, should stand for Klal Yisroel for refuos, yeshuos and the coming of Moshiach Tzidkeinu speedily in our days. 

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