It is with great sorrow that I report the passing of Rabbi Reuven Levinson, one of Chicago’s most beloved Mechanchim. He was a Rebbe at Arie Crown Hebrew Day School for well over 40 years having taught countless young elementary school kids including my own son.
Rabbi Levinson’s reputation as a Rebbe went far beyond the 4 walls of Arie Crown. He influenced countless numbers of young people as principal of an afternoon Hebrew school as well as being involved in various after school and summer programs. His long career saw him teaching not only many children of former students, but even many grandchildren.
He was also a composer of Jewish music having composed somewhere between 75 to 100 songs, some of which were recorded by major Jewish recording artists.
I just returned from his funeral and one of the eulogizers was a a former student who was now teaching the same class in Arie Crown his Rebbe did. He was so inspired by his Rebbe that he chose to follow in his footsteps. He applies his Rebbe’s teaching philosophy to guide him. Always consulting him practically to the last moments of his life. Making sure he was doing things right.
One of the most important features of his teaching philosophy was to never give up on a student. No matter what! He never rejected any one of them. Always trying to find the key to reach him. I believe that for the most part he succeeded where others failed. This was transmitted to his former student now teaching at his former school.
Rabbi Levinson was a gentle person who always had aa smile on his face. He never had a bad word to say about anyone. Not to a student. Not to a parent. Not to anyone.
After his retirement from Arie Crown about 9 years ago, one of the other major day schools asked him if he would be willing to teach there. He obliged.
As one of the eulogizers said: His loss was not only Arie Crown’s loss. It was the entirety of Jewish Chicago’s loss. He will be sorely missed.
Baruch Dayan Emes
