Rabbi Levine's Profile

I was born in Lambeth in south London where I lived until the age of six. We then moved to Forest Gate which at the time was a more Jewish community which had several shuls within walking distance. West Ham shul, affectionately know as Earlham Grove Shul, was to become the family shul (and later my first post!) It was here that I really acquired my love for community shuls.

I attended Beis Shammai Grammar School which started out in Stamford Hill and then moved to the leafy suburbs of Chigwell in Essex. At the age of sixteen, the time had arrived for me to move out and start my Yeshiva life. First stop: Morristown, New Jersey in America where I stayed for two years. Still young, I needed to move on. Everyone seemed to be going to Israel and there really was only one place for me: Kfar Chabad - an idyllic village set off the main road amongst the famous orange groves just outside Tel Aviv. I remained here for seven years, completing my studies with Semicha from Rabbi Yeroslavski of Kiryat Melachi.

Returning home, I worked with my parents in the family business, a kosher delicatessen. The Jewish community had declined over the years and when the rabbi of our shul left, I officially took on the position as minister. I was there for four years before it officially closed in 2004. Having married in 2002, my wife and I moved to Edgware where we lived for two years. In 2003 I began working in the Kashrut Division of the London Beth Din where I continue to work until today.

In 2006 we moved once again to Watford. Now with two sons, we feel we have arrived somewhere that will become our home.

To contact Rabbi Levine by email.