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Kosher Spirit

  • Home > Kosher Spirit > Rabbi Don Yoel Levy Memorial Edition

Rabbi Don Yoel Levy Memorial Edition

  • Letter from the Editor

    Letter from the Editor

    Written by Rabbi Chaim Fogelman

    As the president of OK Kosher, Rabbi Levy set policies, empowered the staff, and personally approved every initial report and setup, yet he never micromanaged. He led by example, never cutting corners, giving it all he had, and being as transparent as possible. He encouraged and expected the same from all the rabbis and staff he hired.

    Read More
  • A Humble Expert

    A Humble Expert

    Written by Rabbi Yitzchak Hanoka

    Rabbi Levy was a very deep thinker who was able to analyze all angles and take things apart quite effectively, while simultaneously having a clear vision of the bigger picture.

    Read More
  • A Hands On Approach to Kashrus

    A Hands On Approach to Kashrus

    Written by Rabbi Eli Lando

    He always had one thing in mind: the overall betterment of kashrus; not just his own agency, but for the standards of the entire world. In light of the fact that he truly viewed his whole life as a shlichus in spreading Torah values, this is really no surprise.

    Read More
  • Letter from the Rishon LeTzion – Rav Yitzchak Yosef שליט”א

    Letter from the Rishon LeTzion – Rav Yitzchak Yosef שליט”א

    Written by Rav Yitzchak Yosef, Rishon LeTzion

    Read More
  • Letter from Rav Chaim Yitzchak Eizik Landau שליט”א

    Letter from Rav Chaim Yitzchak Eizik Landau שליט”א

    Written by Rav Chaim Yitzchak Eizik Landau

    Read More
  • Letter from Rav Yishai Samuel שליט”א – Ramat HaGolan

    Letter from Rav Yishai Samuel שליט”א – Ramat HaGolan

    Written by Rav Yishai Samuel

    Read More
  • Letter from Rav Usher Anshel Eckstein שליט”א – Vaad HaKashrus of Belz

    Letter from Rav Usher Anshel Eckstein שליט”א – Vaad HaKashrus of Belz

    Written by Rav Usher A. Eckstein

    When thinking about the life and achievements of Rabbi Levy, the stronghold and Kashrus empire that thrived under his constant guidance, it is difficult to fathom who will replace the captain of this great liner.

    Read More
  • The Lion of the Pack

    The Lion of the Pack

    Written by Rabbi Ari Senter

    In the kashrus world, the Ari Shebichabura, the lion of the pack, was Rav Don Yoel Levy. He followed in his father’s footsteps guided by his mission statement, “Kosher without compromise”.

    Read More
  • Letter from Rabbi Saul Emanuel

    Letter from Rabbi Saul Emanuel

    Written by Rabbi Saul Emanuel

    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.

    Read More
  • A Chossid, Yiras Shomayim and a Lamdan

    A Chossid, Yiras Shomayim and a Lamdan

    Written by Rabbi Sholem Y. Fishbane

    I saw firsthand that he would think nothing of dropping a lucrative contract for the OK if it involved lowering his standards, a value he observed from his father and made his own.

    Read More
  • Kashrus Was His Mission

    Kashrus Was His Mission

    Written by Rabbi Moshe Elefant & Rabbi Menachem Genack

    Rabbi Levy z”l had a great desire to see achdus among the various Kashrus agencies. To that end, he attended numerous meetings where issues that affected the world of Kashrus were discussed.

    Read More
  • Letter from Rabbi Sholom Tendler – Star K Kosher Certification

    Letter from Rabbi Sholom Tendler – Star K Kosher Certification

    Written by Rabbi Sholom Tendler

    Rabbi Levy was a very special person and his untimely petirah is a huge void in so many places.

    Read More
  • A Friendship More Valuable Than Gold

    A Friendship More Valuable Than Gold

    Written by Rabbi Shimon Freundlich

    He didn’t only give tzedakah; he was interested in every aspect of our lives and our community development. To him the money part was insignificant in comparison to the activity being done.

    Read More
  • דברים לזכרו של דודי היקר, הגאון החסיד הרב דן יואל בן הגאון החסיד הרב דובער ע”ה ליווי

    דברים לזכרו של דודי היקר, הגאון החסיד הרב דן יואל בן הגאון החסיד הרב דובער ע”ה ליווי

    Written by Rabbi Kalman Weinfeld

    Rabbi Kalman Weinfeld is a member of the Kashrus Committee and the Foodservice Rabbinic Coordinator at OK Kosher Certification

    Read More
  • דברים לזכרו של דודי הרה”ח הרב דן יואל ליווי ע”ה נשיא ארגון הכשרות העולמי או קיי

    דברים לזכרו של דודי הרה”ח הרב דן יואל ליווי ע”ה נשיא ארגון הכשרות העולמי או קיי

    Written by Rabbi Shlomo Weinfeld

    Rabbi Shlomo Weinfeld is a member of the Kashrus Committee and the Director of OK Israel

    Read More
  • My Savta, Mrs. Thelma Levy ob”m: A Few Moments with My Savta, my Great-Grandmother

    My Savta, Mrs. Thelma Levy ob”m: A Few Moments with My Savta, my Great-Grandmother

    Written by Chana Fogelman

    I know my job as a preschool teacher had a special place in her heart. She would often recount the story of how she became a preschool teacher, appointed by the Frierdiker Rebbe [Rabbi Yosef Y. Schneersohn of Lubavitch], after she married Rabbi Berel Levy o.b.m.

    Read More
  • My Savta, Mrs. Thelma Levy ob”m: My Savta & My Zeidy

    My Savta, Mrs. Thelma Levy ob”m: My Savta & My Zeidy

    Written by Sara Fogelman

    My Savta (great-grandmother) is someone I looked up to. She was a strong woman who always encouraged me and cared about me.

    Read More
  • My Savta, Mrs. Thelma Levy ob”m

    My Savta, Mrs. Thelma Levy ob”m

    Written by Racheli Camissar

    My Savta (great-grandmother) has been a fixture in my life from a very young age.

    Read More
  • Woman With A Mission

    Woman With A Mission

    Written by Dovid Zaklikowski

    “There would have been no OK if not for Mrs. Levy,” says Rabbi Menachem Hacohen, former member of the Knesset, Chief Rabbi of Romania, and family friend, “She kept everything together. She made sure that bills could be paid, rabbis would receive their salaries, and they could continue to grow.”

    Read More
  • Tatty

    Tatty

    Written by Chaya Camissar

    I had the privilege of working alongside my dear father at OK Kosher and I enjoyed an extremely close working relationship. I admired my father’s scrupulous honesty, determination to do the right thing and adherence to the highest standards of kashrus without compromise.

    Read More
  • A Man of the Highest Standards

    A Man of the Highest Standards

    Written by Rabbi Sholom Ber Hendel

    When I discussed the details with Rabbi Levy, it was clear that despite the fact that there were certain leniencies that could be applied, the OK certifies products “lechatchila” and we will not be certifying this product. When another hechsher reached out to them, willing to certify based on the leniencies, the company said no. The company recognized and appreciated the high standards of the OK.

    Read More
  • The Loss of My Dear Friend

    The Loss of My Dear Friend

    Written by Rabbi Shimon Lasker

    There are no words and feelings to describe the shock and pain of the great loss of [Rabbi Levy], so young, so active, and so important, the driving force and centerpiece of his family, and the head of the OK Kosher Family. He was a great man full of love and respect to all mankind, and when we needed some good advice he was always there for us.

    Read More
  • A Shliach for Klal Yisroel

    A Shliach for Klal Yisroel

    Written by Chasha Brownstein

    Rabbi Levy’s passion for and dedication to kashrus were the driving forces in his life. It was his shlichus and his responsibility to Klal Yisroel—
    both to bring as many types of kosher food as possible to the community, and to ensure that the standards of kashrus were the highest possible. Nothing ever diverted him for those goals.

    Read More
  • A True Leader

    A True Leader

    Written by Dina Fraenkel

    Rabbi Levy showed me what it means to be a true leader—he led us with conviction, with principle, with a clear plan, and with true concern for each one of us. This is what propelled the OK to the top of the kashrus world and what will keep us focused on our mission to continue the shlichus that Rabbi Levy established for each one of us.

    Read More
  • “הדלת היתה פתוחה עבורנו תמיד”

    “הדלת היתה פתוחה עבורנו תמיד”

    Written by Rabbi Ouriel Allouche

    Rabbi Ouriel Allouche is a Rabbinic Coordinator at OK Israel

    Read More
  • Kosher Without Compromise Was a Way of Life

    Kosher Without Compromise Was a Way of Life

    Written by Rabbi Elisha Rubin

    Kashrus had to be without any form of compromise, only after that was assured could any customer relations issue enter the conversation. Even when things were good enough he constantly pushed and prodded to do better and enhance kashrus standards and systems even more.

    Read More
  • אבד “איש עקרונות” מן הארץ

    אבד “איש עקרונות” מן הארץ

    Written by Rabbi Binyomin Neufeld

    Rabbi Binyomin Neufeld is a Rabbinic Coordinator at OK Kosher Certification

    Read More
  • He Was Like A Father To Me

    He Was Like A Father To Me

    Written by Rabbi Ouriel Serfaty

    Writing about Rabbi Levy is probably the biggest challenge I have; much more than writing reports. English is not my mother language, but words spoken from the heart will enter the heart, and will be understood iy”h by all readers. My first feeling upon hearing of …

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  • A Giant in Kashrus

    A Giant in Kashrus

    Written by Rabbi Yosef Dovid Chanowitz

    Over the course of my work at the OK, I had the merit to observe a giant in kashrus, who was extremely focused, with a clear sense of mission, and a great role model to people like me, who were trying to learn the delicate balance between real kashrus standards and good customer service.

    Read More
  • מלמד על אהרן שלא שינה

    מלמד על אהרן שלא שינה

    Written by Rabbi Avraham Teichman

    Rabbi Levy was also of that cloth— שלא שינה. He cared to do things right—completely right; he would patiently work even years on an issue until it was indeed made right.

    Read More
  • Letter From Rabbi Osher Gutnick

    Letter From Rabbi Osher Gutnick

    Written by Rabbi Osher Gutnick

    One of the first things I noticed when I started working at the OK was how unyielding Rabbi Levy was when it came to kashrus principles. Rabbi Levy made abundantly clear what his life mission was: Kashrus without compromise. This is the path which he prepared for us and entrusted us to follow.

    Read More
  • Our Partner and Supporter

    Our Partner and Supporter

    Written by Gedalia and Bassie Shemtov

    We were so blessed to really know Rabbi Levy and saw firsthand the tremendous care he showed to the Shluchim and especially their children. From the very first day of establishment of the Tzeirei Hashluchim Winter Camp, he was our partner and supporter in ensuring the children’s camps’ success.

    Read More
  • The Rebbe’s Soldier – Personal Reflections of Rabbi Don Yoel Levy by a Member of the Shechunah, כאן צוה ה׳ את הברכה

    The Rebbe’s Soldier – Personal Reflections of Rabbi Don Yoel Levy by a Member of the Shechunah, כאן צוה ה׳ את הברכה

    Written by Estee Butman

    All Rabbi Levy’s accomplishments shared one common denominator: first and foremost, he was the Rebbe’s chossid. The Rebbe’s directives were his shlichus, and the Rebbe’s mivtzoim were the platform from which he spread them to the world.

    Read More
  • A Master Teacher

    A Master Teacher

    Written by Britt Nichols

    Over the years, I never left a conversation with Rabbi Levy without learning some new concept or principle of Kashruth. His explanations were exact and with a level of detail equal to my understanding at the time. It is my experience this is a gift given from G-d to Master Teachers. I consider it a blessing to have been taught these things by Rabbi Levy.

    Read More
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Rabbi Don Yoel Levy Memorial Edition

Front Cover of "The Kosher Spirit" Magazine With Photo of Rabbi

Letter from the Editor

A Humble Expert

A Hands On Approach to Kashrus

Letter from the Rishon LeTzion – Rav Yitzchak Yosef שליט”א

Letter from Rav Chaim Yitzchak Eizik Landau שליט”א

Letter from Rav Yishai Samuel שליט”א – Ramat HaGolan

Letter from Rav Usher Anshel Eckstein שליט”א – Vaad HaKashrus of Belz

The Lion of the Pack

Letter from Rabbi Saul Emanuel

A Chossid, Yiras Shomayim and a Lamdan

Kashrus Was His Mission

Letter from Rabbi Sholom Tendler – Star K Kosher Certification

A Friendship More Valuable Than Gold

דברים לזכרו של דודי היקר, הגאון החסיד הרב דן יואל בן הגאון החסיד הרב דובער ע”ה ליווי

דברים לזכרו של דודי הרה”ח הרב דן יואל ליווי ע”ה נשיא ארגון הכשרות העולמי או קיי

My Savta, Mrs. Thelma Levy ob”m: A Few Moments with My Savta, my Great-Grandmother

My Savta, Mrs. Thelma Levy ob”m: My Savta & My Zeidy

My Savta, Mrs. Thelma Levy ob”m

Woman With A Mission

Tatty

A Man of the Highest Standards

The Loss of My Dear Friend

A Shliach for Klal Yisroel

A True Leader

“הדלת היתה פתוחה עבורנו תמיד”

Kosher Without Compromise Was a Way of Life

אבד “איש עקרונות” מן הארץ

He Was Like A Father To Me

A Giant in Kashrus

מלמד על אהרן שלא שינה

Letter From Rabbi Osher Gutnick

Our Partner and Supporter

The Rebbe’s Soldier – Personal Reflections of Rabbi Don Yoel Levy by a Member of the Shechunah, כאן צוה ה׳ את הברכה

A Master Teacher

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