Abraham Levinson
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Abraham Levinson (1877-1949)
- Abraham Levinson was born in Kutno in 1877 into a musical family – his uncle being a famous chazan, Moshe Aaron Kibel of Grodzish. Abraham was educated at the Russian High School in Lodz and then at the Berlin Conservatoire of Music. In 1898, he came to England and was appointed choirmaster to the New Synagogue, Manchester, then occupied ministerial posts in Walthamstow and Bangor, North Wales. In 1900, he married Rachel Hulman, and they had four children: Gertrude Levinson (grandmother of Jonathan Shapiro), Jack Levinson, Benjamin Hertzell Levinson and Susman Levinson. In 1911, Abraham applied In 1919, for the post of chazan of the Graham Street congregation in Edinburgh and I was able to show Jonathan how the minutes book of the Edinburgh Hebrew Congregation records that his greatgrandfather was elected to the post by 35 votes to 2, and was to be paid 35 shillings per week. So Abraham came to Edinburgh, but had an inauspicious start to his tenure, when his wife died in 1912, leaving him to bring up four young children. In 1913, Abraham married again, this time to his first wife’s sister, Gertie Levinson (nee Hulman). They had two children: Moses Louis (Morris) Levinson and Zena Rachel Levinson. But in 1918, Gertie herself died. She was described as: ‘…one who, by her charity and hospitality, had endeared herself to all with whom she came into contact. An Eshet Chayil, in the truest sense of the word, her loss will be keenly felt, especially by the Jewish soldiers to whom she was a staunch friend and to whom she always extended a warm and homely reception. ‘
- In 1919 Abraham took a third wife – Rebecca Levinson (nee Kerbel/Kibel) – by whom he had another three children: Rose Levinson, Esther Levinson and Harry Levinson. Abraham Levinson was chazan in Edinburgh when the community was at its peak, with around 400 families or 2,000 individuals, with Rev. Ordman as his deputy. Their community had its butchers and bakers, a range of social and welfare organisations and the inspirational leadership of Rabbi Dr Salis Daiches. The draughty and dilapidated converted chapel in Graham Street was replaced by the current purpose-built synagogue in Salisbury Road in 1932, and various other small congregations rejoined the fold. Rev Levinson’s granddaughter, Sheila Gore, remembers he had ‘a fabulous baritone voice’. He wrote music and also ran a boys choir. Alec Rubinstein remembers the choirboys in their caps and gowns. Myre Sim remembered that: ‘… he welded together a very good choir which contributed greatly to the beauty of the services and added a measure of decorum …Furthermore, choir rehearsals were always good fun…’
- He taught in the Hebrew School, at that time located in Sciennes School. Myre Sim remembered that he took a class on Jewish history on a Sunday morning: ‘ his graphic accounts of biblical heroes and heroines instilled in us a quiet confidence and pride in our antecedents…’ e Emma Levy (nee Wolfe) remembered: ‘…a handsome man with grey curly hair…he had a … fearsome fiery temper… what I can still see in my mind’s eye is an enraged Rev Levinson chasing an unfortunate victim up the stairs, prayer book in hand…’ f But in his obituary in the Jewish Chronicle, we read that he was: ‘…of a kindly and gentle disposition, he was greatly beloved by all with whom he came into contact.’g Levinson was popular with the congregation, who held a reception in 1936 to mark his silver jubilee in office: ‘At a reception held at the Masonic Hall, Duncan Street, on Sunday with Mr S S Stungo JP in the chair, a silver salver and a cheque for £100 were presented to the Rev A Levinson to mark the silver jubilee of his appointment as Chazan to the Hebrew Congregation. A gold wristlet was also presented to Mrs Levinson. The Chairman, in making the presentation, said that Mr Levinson had gained the esteem and affection of every member of the congregation by his kindly interest and devotion to all matters pertaining to the welfare of the community.’h I was able to show Jonathan a photograph of the salver, now in the possession of Rev. Levinson’s granddaughter in the USA. In 1937, Rev. Levinson retired due to ill health. Mrs Levinson died in April 1949, and Rev Levinson died eight weeks later, aged 72.[1]