By COLlive reporter
The loss of Rabbi Don Yoel Levy, head of the OK Kosher Certification for 33 years, who passed away from coronavirus at the age of 72 has shocked the food industry and the kashrus agencies supervising it.
Rabbi Levy was a leading international authority on kosher food who guided the OK’s work in a new era of global economic growth, advances in technology and soaring demand for kosher food around the world.
COLlive.com presents some of the reactions shared by prominent rabbinical figures.
Rabbi Menachem Genack, CEO of OU Kosher:
The kashrus industry is unique because while there are many different agencies, we are all united in our desire to provide a critical service to the Jewish community. We worked closely with Rabbi Levy and would discuss kashrus issues together. We had a wonderful relationship and he will be sorely missed both on a personal level but also for our industry as a whole. He left an indelible mark and legacy that will reach Jews around the world for decades to come.”
Rabbi Moshe Elefant, COO of OU Kosher:
Running his kashrus agency wasn’t a job but a mission to him; he viewed it as his Shlichus to provide kosher food to the Jewish community. As the COVID-19 pandemic started to grow and impact facilities within our networks, he reached out to me to discuss how together, we could grant supervision to these facilities to make sure that Jews around the world still had access to kosher food in a safe manner. He was a unifier; even as he was ill, he brought us together. Once before Pesach and once during Chol Hamoed, all kashrus agencies came together to daven and learn for his refuah.”
Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik, executive vice-president of the Rabbinical Alliance of America — Igud HaRabbonim:
Rabbi Don Yoel Levy, ZT’L joined the OK at the request of his father HaRav Berel Levy, ZT’L and, on his father’s passing in 1987, assumed leadership of the respected organization. Rabbi Don Yoel Levy continued his father’s legacy in making the OK Kashrus agency a premier international kosher certification agency. By doing so, Rabbi Levy helped Klal Yisroel by further strengthening kashrus standards on a global level and enhancing the availability and selection of kosher food and products for consumers around the world.
Rabbi Levy fortified Torah observance and made being a religious Jew so much more attractive and easier, thereby helping unaffiliated Jews become more observant. In order to achieve his impressive accomplishments, Rabbi Levy traveled the world and unlocked many kosher products for the Jewish community.
We at the Igud HaRabbonim will fondly remember Rabbi Levy’s and the Levy family’s commitment to Kashrus. That memory and example will serve as an inspiration to the kosher community ad biyas goal tzedek.
Rabbi Saul Emanuel, executive director of the Jewish Community Council of Montreal / MK certification:
On the 8th day of Pesach, the world lost a true mentch, leader, man of principle and most of all, a friend.
Reb Don Yoel Levy joined the Kashrus world at a very young age, under the tutelage of his father, Reb Berel Levy, z”l. He ultimately took over the reins of the OK Kosher Certification. Under Reb. Don Yoel’s leadership, and with a sterling reputation, the OK grew to become one of the world’s most formidable Kashrus organizations,
The OK was not about signing up one more company –but rather about signing up one more company that upheld the highest standards of kashrus. As a matter of principle, if a company was not able to comply with the OK standards, they would not receive the OK Kosher certification.
I got to know R’ Don Yoel Levy from the days when I first worked in Kashrus in South Africa, over 30 years ago. He was a man of principle and a person of no compromise when it came to the negotiation of Kashrus standards. There was only one way – the Halachic way, the Torah way. Our relationship was not only kashrus related, but we became extremely close personal friends. Unfortunately, there were times of personal tragedy where we had to spend time together, and although the Nisayon was insurmountable, R’ Don Yoel marched on fervently, continuing to deliver the highest standards of Kashrus for Kosher consumers.
His Emunah Peshuta was an example to all who came into contact with him. Always a clear thinker when it came to challenging Kashrus situations, R’ Don Yoel, and his team, would come up with solutions, to achieve their Kashrus goals. He did not tolerate any Kashrus organization certifying products without follow up visits to ensure compliance. He stood for what was right and for what he believed in.
Reb Don Yoel was only too glad to share the expertise of members of his staff with other Kashrus organizations. It was not about him or the OK, it was about what could be done to further better Kashrus standards, wherever possible. I recently spoke to a Shliach who mentioned that when Reb Don Yoel would come for Shabbos to a remote place, Shabbos was completely different and the atmosphere at the table was different. He added so much with his personality his Divrei Torah. He was Mechazek Yiddin wherever he went.
As an active AKO executive member for many years, Reb Don Yoel gave so much to the organization and to the Kashrus world at large. His intuition and advice when it came to complex situations was unsurpassed and he was always able to contribute in some way to the sometimes-challenging discussions.
From his vast, 40-year kashrus experience, he contributed so much, and the OK grew by leaps and bounds, over the past few years. From Israel to India, from China to Canada, from Indonesia to Italy, from Singapore to South Africa and many more places, too many to mention, including of course, the great United States, Reb Don Yoel and the OK mark became a staple for those wishing to purchase Kosher products.
Many people were helped financially by Reb Don Yoel in his true way of Matan b’Sesser. Nobody knowing or being aware, just a giver and a true mentch, in the true sense of the word.
Much will be written about this incredible individual, a walking Kiddush Hashem, who will be remembered for his innovation, knowledge, and sharing of Kashrus knowledge.
Reb Don Yoel, you will truly be missed, but your contribution and kindness to the world in all ways, will live on for generations to come.
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To share memories and personal reflections, as well as Nichum Aveilim, email: [email protected]
