On Sunday morning, Nov. 8, Rabbi Stan Levy, HaRav Shimon ben Y’huda v’Bayla, was put to rest. Hundreds of attendees, family, friends, students, congregants and colleagues sat with great love and awe as friends and family shared his profound life. His beloved wife Lynda described him as a “man for all seasons,” a Renaissance man, whose gifts of grace touched so many across his spectrum of work and the hours he offered to so many in this world.
Born in 1941 in Chicago, by age nine he came to Los Angeles with his parents, Belle and Julius Levy. His father owned and operated gas stations and Stan watched and learned from his father’s hard work and dedication to family.
Stan became an attorney, quickly becoming a partner at Manatt, Phelps and Phillips, but spreading his wings to create legal institutions that would provide pro bono hours to those in need. Torah teaches, “Tzedek, Tzedek, Tirdoff” “Righteousness, Righteousness you shall Pursue” which became his guiding light. He was a founder of three of the community’s most important legal aid organizations, Western Center on Law & Poverty, Public Counsel and, with his dear friend Luis Lainer, Beit Tzedek, House of Righteousness. His work was to lift-up those in need, support the downtrodden and, particularly, respond with a compassionate heart to the many Holocaust Survivors who lived in the Fairfax District, who had lost their homes and were poverty stricken. He devoted months of pro bono work to create the Holocaust Survivors Justice Network accessing reparations to over 2,200 survivors. In 2011 he was honored with The American Lawyer’s Lifetime Achiever award responding with “To me, the real honor is having done the work.”
Being an attorney was only part of Stan’s life. A passionate music lover, he partnered in music production, artist management and concert promotion, bringing extraordinary musicians to the classical/jazz series at the Hollywood Bowl. However, being a proud Jew was his most treasured core value. He received smicha through Aleph by the hands of his teacher and friend, Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi. He found his voice amongst those who forged a new Judaism away from the conventional denominational community. Based in mysticism, Kabbalah and Chassidut, it served the many Jews who needed a home, some who had been pulled to non-Jewish spiritual practices. But people like Stan led the way as early as 1968 when he created an independent synagogue, B’nai Chorin, Children of Freedom, using prayer, poetryand music as a vehicle to touch the souls of all those he served from various backgrounds.
All of Stan’s work and dedication led to a crowning achievement – with his co-founder, Rabbi Stephen Robbins, his friend and soul-brother, he created an independent synagogue in Los Angeles, Nvay Shalom, Oasis of Peace. Together these two mavericks had a vision which they shared in a phone call; a seminary on the West Coast dedicated to training rabbis, cantors, and chaplains in this new Judaism, a Transdenominational approach that would not only focus on the wisdom of our fathers, rituals to bring sanctity to the moment, but also spirituality – in all its many forms – to both expand the soul of the student and shift the focus to be Gd centered, and create an environment where Shechinah, the feminine Divine, would be present. Stan brought his CD player to class and to retreats, sharing his beloved melodies. Shortly after its early organization, Rabbi Mordecai Finley came on board and then Rabbi Mel Gottlieb, each with their wise and stable presence. These four men became the wheels of the chariot that would travel this new and inspirational pathway, changing the face of Judaism and the way clergy would serve all Jews. The same day his family put Stan to rest, the 25th Anniversary of AJRCA was celebrated at night. As Ecclesiastes teaches, “There is a time to mourn, and a time to dance.”
Stan’s enthusiasm, positivity, wisdom and authenticity led to achieving such expansiveness and possibility in the world, and his gentleness, his great skill at listening, and soulful gaze nurtured many souls that had the privilege of being in his presence.
His beloved wife Lynda of 64 years role-modeled what it means to share love, life and friendship. His most ardent supporter and partner in all that he pursued, and his three sons, Jules, Aaron and Joshua, are bereft and we pray they find consolation in the gifts he shared with so many that will live on far beyond any of us.
Psalm 90 says, “Teach us to count our days …” which truly means to “make each day count.” Rabbi Stan Levy lived each moment as if it might be his last and each day as if it was his first. May his soul travel in peace and return home to the Holy One, and. may his memory always be for blessing.
Rabbi/Cantor Eva Robbins, student, friend, and colleague to this amazing man.
