Levy was born on November 24, 1865, in
London, England, the son of Rabbi Solomon Levy and Elizabeth Cohen. Levy graduated from
University College London in 1884 and studied to be a rabbi at
Jews' College. He then served as rabbi of
Bristol Hebrew Congregation from 1885 to 1889. He immigrated to America in 1889 and became rabbi of
Congregation B'nai Israel in
Sacramento, California. He then served as associate rabbi of
Congregation Keneseth Israel in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from 1893 to 1901. In 1898, he was elected chaplain of Keegan's Brigade and served with them during the
Spanish–American War. He wrote a translation of the
Rosh Hashanah tractate in 1895. He also wrote several other books, including multiple volumes of his sermons. While in Philadelphia, he founded the Home of Delight and the Philadelphia Sterilized Milk, Ice and Coal Company. In 1901, Levy became rabbi of
Rodef Shalom Congregation in
Pittsburgh. He served as rabbi there until his death. A noted pulpit orator, he lectured throughout the United States and beyond. In 1905, he founded the Pittsburgh Peace Society. In 1908, he introduced the Interdenominational Thanksgiving to Pittsburgh. He was also a fellow of the
Royal Society of Arts and the
Royal Meteorological Society, a founder of the Transatlantic Society of America and the Anglo-American Society, president of the Mother's Pension League of
Allegheny County, and a trustee of
Hebrew Union College, the
University of Pittsburgh, and the
National Hospital for Consumptives. In 1881, Levy married Henrietta Platnauer of Bristol, daughter of M. Joseph Platnauer. They had two daughters, Edna Sophie (wife of Joseph H. Barach) and Ruth (wife of Leon Falk). His funeral was held at Rodef Shalom, where Rabbi
Stephen S. Wise delivered the eulogy. The funeral was attended by, among other people, Rodef Shalom's president Judge
Josiah Cohen, Rabbi
Joseph Silverman of
New York City, Rabbi Isadore Philo of
Youngstown, Ohio, Rabbi
Abba Hillel Silver of
Wheeling, West Virginia, Rabbi Moses J. Abels of
Altoona, Rabbi Solomon Michael Neches of
Congregation B'nai Israel, Rabbi Morris Mazure of the
Tree of Life Congregation, Rabbi
George Zepin of
Cincinnati, Ohio, and Rabbi Schuman of
Yonkers, New York. He was buried in West View Cemetery. == References ==