On Chol Hamoed Succos R' Binyomin Levi, z"l, passed
away at the age of 58 to the sorrow of French Jews in Israel
and abroad.
Born in Egypt he moved to Paris as a boy. He studied
philosophy at the University of Paris but found his Jewish
roots after a few years of study, arriving at the conclusion
that Judaism was the path of truth.
He then moved to Strasbourg where he began to study Judaism
under HaRav Eliyahu Abutbol, who spent over 10 years learning
at Yeshivas Be'er Yaakov, which influenced numerous
intellectuals. In 5755 he moved to Eretz Yisroel, settling in
Jerusalem's Bayit Vegan, where he formed a relationship with
HaRav Moshe Shapira. Later he began to study in his
kollel and considered HaRav Shapira his rov
muvhak.
In Eretz Yisroel R' Levi set up a center for the study of
philosophy, delivering shiurim and lectures. As a
chareidi Jew conversant in the Greco-Roman intellectual
tradition he sanctified the Name of Heaven by choosing Toras
Yisroel instead. Some well-known French philosophers who were
his friends during his years as a student of philosophy
backed him in founding the center and would periodically
travel to Israel for seminars and drew closer to Judaism due
to his influence.
With the petiroh of R' Binyomin Levi, z"l,
French chareidi Jewry lost one of his greatest sons still in
his prime and at the peak of his activities to sanctify
Hashem's name borabbim.
