Alfred Lévy (French pronunciation:[alfʁɛdlevi]; 14 December 1840 – 23 July 1919) was a French rabbi who became Chief Rabbi of France in the period immediately before and during World War I.
Alfred Lévy was born in Lunéville on 14 December 1840. He studied at the Collège de Lunéville and in 1860 entered the Rabbinical Seminary of Paris. On completing his studies he became rabbi at Dijon for two years, and then was rabbi of Lunéville for twelve years.[1] In 1880 he became chief rabbi of the consistory of Lyon.[2] In that role, in July 1880 he was named a member of the public education committee of the department of the Rhone.[3] He came to be known as a philanthropist, a French patriot and an eloquent speaker.[2] He was made a chevalier of the Legion of Honor in 1888.[4]
In 1907 Lévy succeeded Zadoc Kahn as head of the central consistory, and thus as Chief Rabbi of France. The election was opposed by one other candidate, Israël Lévi, who was appointed Deputy Chief Rabbi in 1914. At the start of World War I (1914–18) Alfred Lévy established a list of military chaplains. Each year of the war he published the soldier's Tefila, ritual prayers for use by Israelite soldiers on campaign. His health deteriorated during the last two years of the war, and Israël Lévi acted as Chief Rabbi of France in his place.[4]
Alfred Lévy died at Pau, Pyrénées-Atlantiques on 23 July 1919 and was buried in Montparnasse Cemetery in Paris.[4] In 1923 his grandson Robert Gamzon founded the first chapter of the Éclaireurs Israélites de France (EIF) in Paris. This scouting organization brought together native-born and immigrant Jewish youth, and affirmed their Jewish identity.[5] Alfred Lévy's granddaughter Renée Lévy (1906–1943) aided the Resistance during World War II and was executed by the Germans. She is one of the 16 representatives of Fighting France who is buried at the Mémorial de la France combattante.[6]
Publicationsedit
Lévy's publications include:
Le Deuil et les Cérémonies Funèbres chez les Israélites Paris, 1879
Notice sur les Israélites du Duché de Lorraine 1885
Notice sur les Israélites de Lyon 1894
Les Doctrines d'Israel, Recueil de Sermons Lyons, 1896.
L.G. (1890-12-21). "M. Alfred Lévy Grand Rabbin". Revue lyonnaise illustrée: Artistique et littéraire (in French). Revue lyonnaise illustrée. Retrieved 2014-11-08.
Ministère de l'éducation nationale (1880). Bulletin officiel (in French). Impr. Nationale. Retrieved 2014-11-08.
Rosenfeld, Alvin H. (1997-11-22). Thinking about the Holocaust: After Half a Century. Indiana University Press. ISBN0-253-11254-0. Retrieved 2014-10-28.
January 01, 1970
alfred, lévy, french, pronunciation, alfʁɛd, levi, december, 1840, july, 1919, french, rabbi, became, chief, rabbi, france, period, immediately, before, during, world, born, 1840, december, 1840lunéville, francedied23, july, 1919, 1919, aged, pyrénées, atlanti. Alfred Levy French pronunciation alfʁɛd levi 14 December 1840 23 July 1919 was a French rabbi who became Chief Rabbi of France in the period immediately before and during World War I Alfred LevyBorn 1840 12 14 14 December 1840Luneville FranceDied23 July 1919 1919 07 23 aged 78 Pau Pyrenees Atlantiques FranceNationalityFrenchOccupationRabbiKnown forChief Rabbi of France Contents 1 Life 2 Publications 3 References 4 SourcesLife editAlfred Levy was born in Luneville on 14 December 1840 He studied at the College de Luneville and in 1860 entered the Rabbinical Seminary of Paris On completing his studies he became rabbi at Dijon for two years and then was rabbi of Luneville for twelve years 1 In 1880 he became chief rabbi of the consistory of Lyon 2 In that role in July 1880 he was named a member of the public education committee of the department of the Rhone 3 He came to be known as a philanthropist a French patriot and an eloquent speaker 2 He was made a chevalier of the Legion of Honor in 1888 4 In 1907 Levy succeeded Zadoc Kahn as head of the central consistory and thus as Chief Rabbi of France The election was opposed by one other candidate Israel Levi who was appointed Deputy Chief Rabbi in 1914 At the start of World War I 1914 18 Alfred Levy established a list of military chaplains Each year of the war he published the soldier s Tefila ritual prayers for use by Israelite soldiers on campaign His health deteriorated during the last two years of the war and Israel Levi acted as Chief Rabbi of France in his place 4 Alfred Levy died at Pau Pyrenees Atlantiques on 23 July 1919 and was buried in Montparnasse Cemetery in Paris 4 In 1923 his grandson Robert Gamzon founded the first chapter of the Eclaireurs Israelites de France EIF in Paris This scouting organization brought together native born and immigrant Jewish youth and affirmed their Jewish identity 5 Alfred Levy s granddaughter Renee Levy 1906 1943 aided the Resistance during World War II and was executed by the Germans She is one of the 16 representatives of Fighting France who is buried at the Memorial de la France combattante 6 Publications editLevy s publications include Le Deuil et les Ceremonies Funebres chez les Israelites Paris 1879 Notice sur les Israelites du Duche de Lorraine 1885 Notice sur les Israelites de Lyon 1894 Les Doctrines d Israel Recueil de Sermons Lyons 1896 References edit Levy Alfred Jewish Encyclopedia a b L G 1890 p 2 Ministere de l education nationale 1880 p 844 a b c Alfred Levy Le judaisme d Alsace et de Lorraine Hyman 1998 p 142 Rosenfeld 1997 p 275 Sources edit Alfred Levy in French Le judaisme d Alsace et de Lorraine ASIJA Retrieved 2014 11 07 Hyman Paula 1998 The Jews of Modern France University of California Press ISBN 978 0 520 91929 7 Retrieved 2014 11 08 Levy Alfred Jewish Encyclopedia 1906 Retrieved 2014 11 07 L G 1890 12 21 M Alfred Levy Grand Rabbin Revue lyonnaise illustree Artistique et litteraire in French Revue lyonnaise illustree Retrieved 2014 11 08 Ministere de l education nationale 1880 Bulletin officiel in French Impr Nationale Retrieved 2014 11 08 Rosenfeld Alvin H 1997 11 22 Thinking about the Holocaust After Half a Century Indiana University Press ISBN 0 253 11254 0 Retrieved 2014 10 28 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alfred Levy amp oldid 1164121281, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
