Chaim Avraham Dov Ber Levine

Rabbi Chaim Avraham Dov Ber Levine HaCohen, (1859/1860 - 1938), a kohen by birth, known as "the Malach" (lit. "the angel") was the founder of the Malachim (Hasidic group).

Biography

In Europe the Malach had been one of the closest followers of Rabbi Sholom Dovber Schneersohn and the tutor of his son, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Schneersohn. He had been esteemed by Rabbi Sholom Dovber Schneersohn.^[1] Upon his arrival in New York in 1923, he was welcomed by Rabbi Shraga Feivel Mendlowitz, the rosh yeshiva (dean) of Yeshiva Torah Vodaath in Brooklyn,^[2]^[3]

The Malach parted ways with the Lubavitch group, and the Malachim became separate from the Lubavitch movement. After the Malach's death, Rabbi Yankev Schor led the group.^[4]

The Malach is not to be confused with the son of Dov Ber of Mezeritch, who was sometimes called "Avraham the Malach".^[5]

References

^ Jerome R. Mintz Hasidic people: a place in the new world 1992 Page 21 "Such a man was Rabbi Chaim Avraham Dov Ber Levine HaCohen, a respected Lubavitcher rabbi and sage who was known as the Malach (Angel). In 1923 he had emigrated to the United States where he received the respect and honor accorded a distinguished Talmudic scholar.1 In Europe the Malach had been held in high esteem by Rabbi Sholom Dovber Schneersohn (1860-1920), ..."
^ Orthodox Judaism in America: a biographical dictionary and sourcebook p 153 Moshe D. Sherman - 1996 "A frequent visitor to Mesivta Torah Vodaath during the 1920s was Rabbi Chaim Avraham Dov Ber Levine HaCohen, known as the Malach (the Angel). A saintly and charismatic Lubavitch scholar, the Malach was admired by Mendlowitz, ..."
^ Edgework: Boundary crossing among the Hasidim p31 Hella Winston, City University of New York - 2006 "Several other distinguished rebbes also made visits to the United States during this time, and, in 1923, Rabbi Chaim Avraham Dov Ber Levine HaCohen ("The Malach", or Angel), a respected Lubavitcher rabbi, settled in New York City and ..."
^ Hasidic people: a place in the new world p26 Jerome R. Mintz - 1992 "They were too conscious of the Malach's sense of rejection from Lubavitch. Instead, new leadership of the M'lochim came from within the group. Rabbi Yankev Schor, one of the early students, was named as rabbi, but he shared the ..."
^ The sustaining utterance: discourses on Chasidic thought Adin Steinsaltz, Yehuda Hanegbi - 1989 "Among the sages who preceded and taught Rabbi Schneur Zalman, the most prominent were the Maggid of Mezritch and the son of the Maggid, Rabbi Avraham, who was called the "Malach" (Angel). The "Malach" left practically no writings at all. The influence of the "Malach" on Rabbi Schneur Zalman was very profound — an emphasis on self-discipline and asceticism — which, although it was somewhat opposed to the main stream of Chasidic wholesomeness of divine worship, ...

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[1] Jerome R. Mintz Hasidic people: a place in the new world 1992 Page 21 "Such a man was Rabbi Chaim Avraham Dov Ber Levine HaCohen, a respected Lubavitcher rabbi and sage who was known as the Malach (Angel). In 1923 he had emigrated to the United States where he received the respect and honor accorded a distinguished Talmudic scholar.1 In Europe the Malach had been held in high esteem by Rabbi Sholom Dovber Schneersohn (1860-1920), ..."

[2] Orthodox Judaism in America: a biographical dictionary and sourcebook p 153 Moshe D. Sherman - 1996 "A frequent visitor to Mesivta Torah Vodaath during the 1920s was Rabbi Chaim Avraham Dov Ber Levine HaCohen, known as the Malach (the Angel). A saintly and charismatic Lubavitch scholar, the Malach was admired by Mendlowitz, ..."

[3] Edgework: Boundary crossing among the Hasidim p31 Hella Winston, City University of New York - 2006 "Several other distinguished rebbes also made visits to the United States during this time, and, in 1923, Rabbi Chaim Avraham Dov Ber Levine HaCohen ("The Malach", or Angel), a respected Lubavitcher rabbi, settled in New York City and ..."

[4] Hasidic people: a place in the new world p26 Jerome R. Mintz - 1992 "They were too conscious of the Malach's sense of rejection from Lubavitch. Instead, new leadership of the M'lochim came from within the group. Rabbi Yankev Schor, one of the early students, was named as rabbi, but he shared the ..."

[5] The sustaining utterance: discourses on Chasidic thought Adin Steinsaltz, Yehuda Hanegbi - 1989 "Among the sages who preceded and taught Rabbi Schneur Zalman, the most prominent were the Maggid of Mezritch and the son of the Maggid, Rabbi Avraham, who was called the "Malach" (Angel). The "Malach" left practically no writings at all. The influence of the "Malach" on Rabbi Schneur Zalman was very profound — an emphasis on self-discipline and asceticism — which, although it was somewhat opposed to the main stream of Chasidic wholesomeness of divine worship, ...

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