A Jew was arrested and jailed on Shabbos Kodesh during the era of the British rule over Eretz Yisrael. R’ Aryeh Levine, z’tl, who was known as the Rav of the prisoners, was aware that this prisoner was a frum Jew who would not touch the food served in prison. R’ Aryeh prepared food for Shabbos for the prisoner and brought it to the prison. He approached the prison administration, explained why he had brought the food, and requested permission to deliver it to the frum prisoner. The administration refused to fulfill his request.
However, R’ Aryeh was not so easily deterred. He empathized with the pain and hunger of the Jew, and tried to think of another way to deliver the food he had prepared for him. After a few minutes of thought, he called over the two Jews who had accompanied him to the prison. He looked around to ascertain that no one was watching, and he climbed on their backs, despite his advanced age. He then scaled the high walls of the prison and jumped inside, where he gave the food to the Jew. The prison officers immediately grabbed him and brought him to their commander for his serious breach of law.
However, when the prison commander was informed that R’ Aryeh had endangered himself by scaling the high walls of the prison, he related to him with great respect rather than censuring him. He said to him, “I’m now sure that you don’t receive a salary for your position as the Rav of the Jewish prisoners. It’s impossible that someone who fulfills his position for a salary would show such great sacrifice.” (Barchi Nafshi As told to R’ Zilberstein by R’ Elyashiv)
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