Reb Yisroel Levin was born in the year 5645 (1885) in the chassidishe town of Nevel. He studied for many years in Lubavitch and became a lamdan, as well as a great maskil in Chassidus. After his marriage to the daughter of Reb Mordechai Pevzner, he settled in the city of Klimovitch. The Frierdiker Rebbe advised that he should be accepted as a melamed in order for "the children to know what a chassidishe melamed is.” Reb Yisroel was arrested twice for teaching Torah to children and each time was held in prison for many months. During World War II, he fled to Tashkent where he continued to teach Torah, infused with chassidishe stories. He escaped Russia after the war but fell ill shortly after. He passed away on 9 Iyar 5709 (1949).
Reb Yisroel once overheard someone telling his friend about a certain halacha where the Alter Rebbe writes in Shulchan Aruch that a baal nefesh should be machmir on himself. The friend responded, “I’m not a baal nefesh.” Reb Yisroel entered the conversation asking, “If you’re not a baal nefesh, then what are you? A ‘baal nefesh’ is a Yid who possesses a neshama. Someone without a neshama is called a ‘baal guf.’”
In Elul 5698 (1938), Reb Yisroel was arrested by the NKVD and was held in prison for over a year, enduring painful interrogations. Friends of the family suggested to Reb Yisroel’s wife to send their little daughter to the communist schools, hopefully resulting in his release or a reduction of his sentence. The little girl began attending the school and a short time later Reb Yisroel was indeed released and he returned home.
The following morning he noticed his daughter carrying a knapsack and heading for the door. He inquired as to where she was going, and the little girl responded, “To school. Friends told mother that if I go to school you might be freed and that’s exactly what happened!” Reb Yisroel replied firmly, “If this is the condition that warranted my release, I would rather stay in prison!”
