Background
Levy was born in Jerusalem shortly after his parents immigrated to Palestine from Morocco. His father was Rabbi Yaakov Levy, a noted kabbalist at Beit El Yeshiva.
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Zion Levy
Edit ProfileEducation
Levy studied at Porat Yosef Yeshiva.
Career
His tenure is thought to be the longest of any religious leader in the region. He built up a Jewish community of 6,000-7,000 Torah-observant Jews in a country of 3 million. He arrived in Panama in 1951 at the urging of the Jerusalem beth din.
To prevent power struggles between community factions and himself, Levy established himself as the sole Torah authority.
He also laid down the conversion law immediately: Number conversions will be performed in Panama, ruling that all converts must undergo conversions in Orthodox rabbinical courts outside Panama and then be subject to a two-year probation period in Panama, where they would have to prove their commitment to a Torah lifestyle. He frequently phoned the country’s imam for a talk.
By the time of his death, the Shevet Ahim community numbered 10,000 Jews, 6,000 of whom are Torah-observant. The community included several synagogues, mikvahs, three Jewish schools, a yeshiva, a kollel, and a girls" seminary, along with several kosher butchers.
Levy suffered from ill health for several years.
In October 2008, he felt unwell and was visited by two physicians from Israel"s Tel Hashomer Hospital. The doctors found him in critical condition and recommended that he be flown to Israel to Tel Hashomer. His condition improved initially, but on the evening of 23 November 2008 he succumbed to his illness at the age of 83.
He was eulogized at Porat Yosef Yeshiva.
Haim Levy, a resident of Jerusalem, took over his father"s post in Panama as Chief Rabbi. He later resigned the post, and returned to Israel.
