Rabbi John Simon Levi (born 1934) is an Australian

Progressive Progressive may refer to: Politics * Progressivism, a political philosophy in support of social reform ** Progressivism in the United States, the political philosophy in the American context * Progressive realism, an American foreign policy par ...

rabbi and author. He was the rabbi at Melbourne's Temple Beth Israel for many years and was a founder of Melbourne's King David School. Levi was created a

Member of the Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, on the advice of the Australian Gove ...

(AM) in the 1981 Queen's Birthday Honours. In the

2021 Australia Day Honours The 2021 Australia Day Honours are appointments to various orders and honours to recognise and reward good works by Australian citizens. The list was announced on 26 January 2021 by the Governor General of Australia, David Hurley. The Australia ...

, Levi was awarded the highest level of honour, the

Companion of the Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, on the advice of the Australian Gove ...

(AC). He was given the award for "eminent service to Judaism through seminal roles with religious, community and historical organisations, to the advancement of interfaith understanding, tolerance and collaboration, and to education". Levi became the first Australian born rabbi when he was ordained in 1960 and joined the staff of Temple Beth Israel. He was senior rabbi there from 1974 to 1997 when he became Rabbi Emeritus. He was named as Rabbi Emeritus of Temple Beth Israel in 1997

Doctor of Laws A Doctor of Law is a degree in law. The application of the term varies from country to country and includes degrees such as the Doctor of Juridical Science (J.S.D. or S.J.D), Juris Doctor (J.D.), Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), and Legum Doctor (LL. ...

(''

honoris causa An honorary degree is an academic degree for which a university (or other degree-awarding institution) has waived all of the usual requirements. It is also known by the Latin phrases ''honoris causa'' ("for the sake of the honour") or ''ad hono ...

'') of

Monash University Monash University () is a public research university based in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Named for prominent World War I general Sir John Monash, it was founded in 1958 and is the second oldest university in the state. The university has a ...

. Levi helped found the

Australian Council of Christians and Jews The Australian Council of Christians and Jews was formed on 17 December 1991 when the International Council of Christians and Jews required a national organisation to be its Australian affiliate. It was founded by the New South Wales and Victoria ...

in 1985. He was also a vice president of the

World Union for Progressive Judaism The World Union for Progressive Judaism (WUPJ) is the international umbrella organization for the various branches of Reform, Liberal and Progressive Judaism, as well as the separate Reconstructionist Judaism. The WUPJ is based in 40 countries ...

from 1974 to 1998. Levi has deep family roots in Australia stretching back to the mid 1800s, which include

Nathaniel Levi Nathaniel Levi (1830–1908) was a Liverpool born Victorian politician and businessman. He arrived at Hobson's Bay The City of Hobsons Bay is a local government area in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It comprises the south-western sub ...

, the first state Jewish MP.

Bibliography

Levi has written about 20 books, including * *

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Levi, John 20th-century Australian rabbis 21st-century Australian rabbis Living people Australian biographers Clergy from Melbourne Companions of the Order of Australia Members of the Order of Australia Recipients of the Centenary Medal 1934 births