Josh Levi: tributes from the community

February 4, 2020 by J-Wire Newsdesk
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Tributes to Joshua Levi continue to pour in. The following are from the community. Josh was the CEO of The Australian Jewish News. He tragically passed away on Sunday evening at the of 36.

We are deeply saddened by the sudden and premature death of Joshua Levi, a great journalist and a dear friend to many of us at The Executive Council of Australian Jewry.

The loss is made all the more tragic by the fact that Josh became a father only two weeks ago.

Josh was the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Jewish News, in addition to editing and reporting at the paper. He was a journalist of grit, keen instincts and professionalism. He would have been a star at any media outlet but chose to remain within the Jewish community because of his complete love and devotion to it.

He provided an immense benefit to our community, covering stories that deeply affected us, which sometimes stirred controversy, but he was always guided by a love of his community and his journalistic ethics.

Not only was Josh a great journalist, but he was also a wonderful human being. He had a contagious enthusiasm for life, loved the Canberra Raiders and Chelsea Football Club, and was an outstanding friend and colleague.

Josh is survived by his wife, Lia, his newborn daughter, Lara, his parents Ann and Ian, his brother Ben and grandmother Sylvia.

The Australian Jewish community extends its deepest condolences to all who are affected by Josh’s death. May the Levi family be comforted among the mourners of Zion and may they each be blessed with long life. Our community is a poorer place for Josh’s death but we will all be blessed by memories of him for many years to come.


From the Embassy of Israel,  ambassador Mark Sofer said: “The Embassy of Israel mourns the tragic and untimely passing of AJN CEO Joshua Levi z”l. Josh was a true professional in every way, and among the foremost Australian journalists in the Jewish world and far beyond. He will be truly missed. Our deepest condolences to his family.”


Zionist Federation of Australia President Jeremy Leibler said  “Mr Levi was a gifted journalist and a mensch. We are all devastated by this terrible news”. He passed his sincerest condolences to Lia and their newborn daughter. ZFA CEO Ginette Searle added that Mr Levi was a consummate community professional, who will be deeply missed both by those who knew him and by the community at large.


NSW Jewish Board of Deputies president Lesli Berger and CEO Vic Alhadeff added their voices to the widespread grief at Mr Levi’s passing. “To say we are devastated would be a massive understatement,” they said. ”Josh was the ultimate community journalist. There was never anyone better. He investigated every issue to the last detail, yet it was always with his irrepressible chuckle, always with his trademark good humour. And he was often an unsung hero behind the scenes to ensure the continued strength and resilience of our community and its key institutions.

Our friendship extended to his first days on the AJN, and we cannot comprehend that he is no longer with us. We extend our deepest condolences to his parents Ian and Ann, his wife Lia, his extended family and of course his family at the AJN.”


The Jewish Community Council of Victoria President Jennifer Huppert said: “Josh will be remembered as an insightful, compassionate and astute journalist and dear friend of the Jewish community. We are shocked by his sudden passing and offer our deepest condolences to his dear family and friends at this difficult time.”


JCA joins with the rest of the community in mourning the untimely passing of Josh Levi, CEO of AJN and friend to us all. On behalf of the JCA Board of Governors, Executive and team, our deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences go out to his family at this very sad time. Many of us had the honour to work closely with Josh over the years and his significant contribution to our community cannot be overstated. More than that, he was the soul and conscience of this community – he loved what he did and his example encouraged all of us to do better. His wisdom and insight, his profound love of our community, his warmth and good humour will be missed by all of us. May his memory be a blessing.


The Executive, Board and Staff at Zionism Victoria are devastated to hear of the untimely death of Joshua Levi yesterday. Josh’s life has been cut short in his prime at just 36 years of age. He had just welcomed his first child born this month and this should have been a time of celebration for Josh and his family.

The Australian Jewish News and the Australian Jewish community has lost a true mensch.  Zionism Victoria has had a warm and constructive working relationship with Joshua and we will acutely feel his loss. We all wish his wife and family much strength at this difficult time.


Yair Miller, the CEO of the United Israel Appeal said: Josh was a unique personality who had a singular focus on ensuring the community was always first and foremost. His deep intellect coupled with a hunger for the facts and the truth always ensured a balance and objectivity in his reporting and a sharp insight in his opinion pieces. Our prayers and thoughts go out to his family and in particular his wife Lia and precious little girl Lara. His love of life, his family and the community were evident in every conversation we have had over the last 15 years that we have worked together. He will be sorely missed on a personal and communal level. May his memory be a blessing.


From Dan Springer CEO of the JNF: “All of the JNF family, together with the rest of the community, were shocked to hear of the sudden and tragic passing of Joshua Levi, having just become a father. We extend our heartfelt condolences and deepest sympathies to Lia, Ann, Ian, Ben, Mel, Sylvia and all the family for their immeasurable loss and pray that baby Lara grows up to be blessed by her father’s legacy of service.

Josh will always be remembered for his passionate commitment to our community, as he chronicled major events both here and in Israel, analysed key issues of the day and advocated for moral causes. May his memory be forever blessed.


From the staff and directors at the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs CouncilJoshua Levi was a gem of the Australian Jewish community. He was passionate, energetic and hardworking. Our community is far poorer for his very premature, untimely passing.

All AIJAC directors and staff, particularly those who also had worked alongside Josh at the Australian Jewish News, will remember him with much fondness.

His passing has stunned us all and we wish all his family, in particular, his wife and baby, a long life, with nothing but Simchas.


ZCNSW President Richard Balkin: We mourn and grieve the heartbreaking loss of community leader JOSH LEVI

The Zionist Council of New South Wales (ZCNSW) is devastated and heartbroken beyond words at the news of the tragic passing of Josh Levi.

Josh was more than just an outstanding, award-winning journalist and CEO of AJN, he was truly the heart and soul, a pillar and irreplaceable voice of the Australian Jewish community.

He was also a true mensch and a dear and treasured friend of the ZCNSW family, for whom we always had the utmost respect and deepest of appreciation for.

Although Josh is no longer with us, his writings and unbridled passion and commitment to AJN and the Australian Jewish community leave us all stronger, better and indebted for life to him.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Josh’s family, who meant everything to him, especially his wife and newborn daughter.

May his memory always be blessed, as we shall never forget him.


Barry Smorgon, Chairman of Maccabi Australia: On behalf of Jeff Sher, President of  Maccabi Australia Inc., and all members of Maccabi throughout the country,   I extend our sincere sympathy to the Levi family on this tragic news of Josh`s passing. We are all shocked and saddened.

Josh, over many years as a senior Executive, & journalist at The Jewish News understood the importance of the role  Maccabi plays within the Community by bringing people together.

He was always forthcoming with concepts & ideas to promote Maccabi in the Jewish News.

He was a diligent journalist who only relatively recently took over the management of the paper.

I have had the pleasure of knowing him for many years and will certainly miss our “Off the record “ chats which we used to do whenever we felt the need.

He will be sadly missed by many people in the community who had the pleasure to have contact with him.


Mount Scopus College Principal, Rabbi James Kennard said, “Josh was a true pleasure to work with. He combined courtesy, professionalism and discretion with a tremendous passion for the future of our community. This is a great loss for us all.


We were shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the sudden passing of Joshua Levi. The AJN has lost a valued and esteemed colleague, an investigative journalist who was committed to quality news journalism. Our sincerest sympathy and thoughts are with the family and the team at AJN.

Ron Finkel and the Hadassah Australia Team.


“Yeshivah-Beth Rivkah Colleges pays respects to a loving husband, father and son, a  journalist with a big heart and kind disposition, someone who loved to laugh.

Josh was a mensch.  He was always available and willing to listen.  He was respectful.  He cared for the community and wanted to make us better.  He was a man of integrity and of his word.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife and daughter, parents, brother and sister-in-law and extended family and to all that knew Josh”


The entire AUJS family sends our condolences to the Australian Jewish News after the passing of their CEO, Joshua Levi.
President Joshua Kirsh said: “Josh was a powerhouse for our community, and a tireless journalist who worked hard to keep us informed and bring us closer together.
He was a model of leadership who we are better for having known, and bereft for having lost. We wish his family long life and comfort.”

Technion Australia joins with the whole Jewish community in mourning the loss of a dedicated and much-loved journalist, Josh Levi. He will be sorely missed.

Ruth Ratner President Technion Australia


The Union for Progressive Judaism, representing the Progressive Jewish communities of Australia, New Zealand and Asia received the shocking news of the sudden passing of Joshua Levi with great sadness.

Co-President David Knoll commented: “Josh was a young man who loved and was loved by his family and his community.  Immensely sensitive, blessed with sound judgment and wisdom beyond his years, Josh was a champion of Jewish pluralism and a fierce advocate for honesty and transparency in our communal institutions.  I had the honour to know, admire and respect Josh most of his life, a life cut far too short.  All Jewry grieve with his wife, baby daughter and family.  May his memory always be for a blessing.


The Montefiore family is deeply saddened to hear of the untimely passing of AJN CEO Joshua Levi. We offer our heartfelt condolences to his wife, newborn daughter, family, friends and AJN colleagues. His memory will live on through his commitment to sharing our community’s stories.


Moriah College joins the community in mourning the heartbreaking loss of AJN CEO and College alumnus, Joshua Levi (Moriah Class of 2001).

Josh’s dedication, commitment, passion and tireless work for our community was legendary. He will always be remembered for his wonderful humour, warmth and kindness, as well as his inspirational courage to stand up for what he believed in. Josh will be missed by so many.

On behalf of the Moriah College Board of Directors, College Executive, staff members, and the many who knew him as a friend, we extend our deepest sympathies and sincere condolences to Lia, Lara, Ann, Ian, Ben, Mel and their extended families. May Josh’s memory be a blessing for all who knew him.


“On behalf of ZDVO Beit Halochem Australia, we are very saddened by the tragic passing of Josh Levi. Josh was not only an exceptional journalist and a pleasure to work with, he was also a highly respected and dedicated member of the Jewish community. We will miss our regular liaisons with Josh.  We wish his entire family a long life and our sincere condolences at this very difficult time. ”  Michael Balkin, President, Evie Smith, Executive Director


Our Big Kitchen founder Rabbi Dr Dovid Slavin: “This is a horrific tragedy and a terrible loss. Josh was a dedicated friend to so many and was one of the most passionate and talented people you would ever meet.

Josh had a real place in his big heart for OBK and always did what he can to help and encourage our work

To say he will be sadly missed is an understatement.

Our hearts go out to his family particularly to his young widow Lia who just gave birth to their first child – all this while she is grieving for the loss of her dear mother.


On behalf of The President and the Board, the Ministers, and the staff of The Great Synagogue, Sydney

We are deeply saddened at the news of the sudden and tragic passing away of Joshua Levi, CEO of the Australian Jewish news.

An outstanding journalist and a great friend, Josh will be dearly missed

We extend our deepest sympathy to Josh’s wife Lia and daughter Lara, his parents and siblings and we wish them all Long Life.

May his memory be a blessing BDE.


UJEB would like to express our sincere condolences to Joshua Levi’s family. He will be remembered as a great supporter and pillar of our community.   UJEB staff and board.

The executive, management and staff of Maccabi NSW wishes to express its deepest sympathy to Josh’s family.
Josh was a passionate sports fan and strong Maccabi supporter. He will be sorely missed.
May his memory be a blessing.

B’nai B’rith Australia/New Zealand is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Joshua Levi, senior journalist and CEO of the AJN.

He was dedicated and committed to his journalism and the Jewish community and will be sorely missed.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this terrible time.  Anna Marks, President B’nai B’rith NSW and Davis Samuels President B’nai B’rith Australia/New Zealand.


NCJWA Vic board, staff, members and volunteers send their sincere condolences over the sad passing of Joshua Levi. Our hearts go out to his family, friends and colleagues at the Jewish News in this time of sorrow. Baruch dayan ha’emet.


From JewishCare Sydney:

Being a scribe and commentator is steeped in Jewish tradition and carries considerable responsibly. Josh handled this role so perfectly and became such an integral part of our community. He was always the consummate professional with the ability to crystallise even the most difficult issue and present it in a clear, concise and balanced way. He will be sadly missed by the entire community especially everyone at JewishCare

 

Comments

One Response to “Josh Levi: tributes from the community”
  1. Myrna Kangisser says:

    WITH DEEP RESPECT AND LOVE FOR MY COLLEAGUE JOSH LEVI I WISH HIS BELOVED FAMILY LONG LIFE AND THE KNOWLEDGE THAT HIS CONTRIBUTION TO SO MANY LIVES WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. MYRNA KANGISSER

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