Reb Aharon Halevi of Strasheleh was one of the greatest talmidim of the Alter Rebbe. He was chosen by the Alter Rebbe to be the Mitteler Rebbe’s chavrusa, and they became extremely close friends.

He wrote and published numerous seforim of Chassidus, and after the histalkus of the Alter Rebbe, some chassidim of the Alter Rebbe chose Reb Aharon as their Rebbe. Reb Aharon was imprisoned at the same time as the Mitteler Rebbe.

He passed away on Shemini Atzeres 5589 (1828) in Strasheleh, where he is buried.

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Reb Aharon’s manner of avodas Hashem was full of enthusiasm and left an indelible impression on all those who saw it.

The chassid Reb Abba Tshashniker related his visit to Reb Aharon at the age of twelve:

“The speech of Rabbi Aharon was fiery, and when he mentioned the name of the Alter Rebbe, he would stand up and then fall silent, immersed in thought.” Reb Abba’s eyes would shine brightly as he spoke of these things.

He once said: “At a later time, I was privileged to see the Mitteler Rebbe and to become a follower of the Tzemach Tzeddek, but to the end of my days I shall never forget what I saw and heard when I was with the chassid Reb Aharon whenever the words of the Alter Rebbe were on his lips.”

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Once a chassid inquired of Reb Peretz Chein whether he should travel to Lubavitch or to Strasheleh, and Reb Peretz directed him to Strasheleh. The next time that Reb Peretz arrived in Lubavitch, the Mitteler Rebbe expressed his displeasure at having sent a chossid away from Lubavitch.

Reb Peretz replied that he saw that the chossid was totally emotional and lacked the intellectual aptitude that the Mitteler Rebbe guided his chassidim. He therefore decided he would be better off by Reb Aharon, who encouraged emotional enthusiasm.