Abraham Levy (; 16 July 1939 – 25 December 2022) was an English Orthodox rabbi, theologian and author. He served as spiritual head of the Spanish and Portuguese Jewish community in Britain from 1962 to 2012, and was a founding member of Naima Jewish Preparatory School. Levy was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services on inter-faith co-operation in the 2004 New Year Honours.
Biography Abraham Levy was born on 16 July 1939 in Gibraltar.The Jewish Genealogical Society of Great Britain Conference Newsletter, 28 October 2012]Autobiography of Abraham Levy, "A Rocky Road" (Halban, 2017) His uncle was Sir Joshua Hassan, former Chief Minister of Gibraltar. His siblings were the former Mayor of Gibraltar Solomon Levy, Nita Corre, Loli Berisch and James Levy.Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle, May 29, 2018 Rabbi Abraham Levy is also a relative to Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, deputy mayor of Jerusalem.Gibraltar Chronicles, "The memoirs of Rabbi Levy" by Alice Mascarenhas, 15 September 2017Jewish News, "Tributes to ‘towering’ former leader of Spanish and Portuguese Jewry in UK", Jenni Frazer, 28 December 2022
He moved to the United Kingdom in 1951 to study at Carmel College, and received his ordaination from Jews' College and a PhD from the University of London. He became spiritual head of the Britain Spanish and Portuguese Jewish community in 1962, a position he held until 2012.The Jewish Chronicle 19 April 2012 Levy served as rabbi of the Bevis Marks Synagogue and Lauderdale Road in London. He was also Honorary Deputy President of London School of Jewish Studies, founder and Honorary Principal of Naima Jewish Preparatory School, and an ecclesiastical authority for the Board of Deputies of British Jews.
Levy died from prostate cancer at his home in Maida Vale, London, on 25 December 2022, aged 83. He had one son.Limmud mourns leading British Sephardi rabbi, Dr Abraham Levy He is buried at Hoop Lane Sephardi Cemetery in Golders Green.Jewish News, "Tributes to ‘towering’ former leader of Spanish and Portuguese Jewry in UK", Jenni Frazer, 28 December 2022 King Charles paid tribute to him, describing him as a "kind and towering figure" and said he knew him "as a greatly respected and admired teacher across communities."
Awards and honours In 1993, Levy was awarded a Knight Commander (Encomienda) Order of Civil Merit (Spain). In 2004, Levy was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to inter-faith co-operation.United Kingdom:
Publications
Illustrated.
Levy's memoirs, filled with anecdotes from both public life and community service and a testimony to his religious faith.
References