A Rocky Road

Over his fifty years as a Rabbi, Abraham Levy has had great influence on Jewish life in London and throughout Great Britain, and on the relationship between religion and the secular world. His deep sense of moderation and his commitment to inter-faith shines through his life and his book. He served as Head of the Sephardi community and was an interesting counterpart to Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi from 1991-2013. Levy's pluralistic and liberal approach brought him into contact with Jewish and non-Jewish spiritual and secular leaders from Archbishops in the UK, to the Vatican, and to leaders in Morocco, Israel and Spain. His tenure as Rabbi and teacher saw the expansion of a small but prominent Sephardi community in the UK. His greatest educational achievement has been the establishment of the Naima Jewish Preparatory School in London and the preservation of the Moses Montefiore legacy both educational and spiritual. Written with great charm and humour, with lively and telling anecdotes, the book is a testament to his devotion to both public life, community and, above all, the young. His memoirs are an invaluable testimony to religious faith in an increasingly secular and conflicted world.