Who is Yankel from The Last of the Just and what is their importance?

Yankel is the Jewish man that Benjamin meets in a homeless shelter at the synagogue in Berlin. He is a hard and bitter man, who has lost his faith. He does, however, see that Benjamin is a good Jew...... that he is loving, kind and peaceful. As a result, he tells Benjamin to leave Berlin and go home. To assist him, Yankel gives Benjamin a large amount of money— money Benjamin uses start a new life in Stillenstadt.