Dov Levin
Encyclopedia
Don Levin was an Israeli jurist and Supreme Court
justice in the years 1982–1995.
Levin was born in Tel Aviv
to Eliyahu and Dvora Levin, in a family of rabbis and scholars, descendants of the Vilna Gaon
and residents of Israel
since the mid-19th century. In 1943 he moved with his parents to Jerusalem, where he joined the Irgun
while at the same time working at the British Mandate police headquarters. He also went to law school, and continued studying law upon his return to Tel Aviv in 1945.
During the 1948 Arab–Israeli War he served in the Israel Defense Forces
as an officer in the Alexandroni Brigade
's 35th Battalion. In the reserves, he served in the Adjutant Corps. In 1951 he was formally permitted to practice law and joined the Israel Bar Association
, and in September 1966 became a judge. After becoming a judge, he also served in that capacity in the Military Court of Appeals as part of his reserve service. Levin was a judge in the Tel Aviv magistrate court until May 1972, when he was promoted to the district court. In 1979 he became vice-president of the court. In March 1981 he became a provisional Supreme Court justice and was given a permanent tenure on February 15, 1982. In 1988 he presided over a special court that judged John Demjanjuk
and in the same year was responsible for disqualifying the Kach
party from running for the Knesset
.
Levin was publicly active in other fields, heading the National Council for Prevention of Road Accidents and the Israel Football Association
refereeing departments. In 1995 he quit his official positions and became an arbitrator. In 1997 he was received the Yakir Tel Aviv prize.
Levin had two sons, Eliyahu and Assaf, both of them lawyers. He was also the uncle of poet and translator Amasai Levin
.
Supreme Court of Israel
The Supreme Court is at the head of the court system and highest judicial instance in Israel. The Supreme Court sits in Jerusalem.The area of its jurisdiction is all of Israel and the Israeli-occupied territories. A ruling of the Supreme Court is binding upon every court, other than the Supreme...
justice in the years 1982–1995.
Levin was born in Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
to Eliyahu and Dvora Levin, in a family of rabbis and scholars, descendants of the Vilna Gaon
Vilna Gaon
Elijah ben Shlomo Zalman Kramer, known as the Vilna Gaon or Elijah of Vilna and simply by his Hebrew acronym Gra or Elijah Ben Solomon, , was a Talmudist, halachist, kabbalist, and the foremost leader of non-hasidic Jewry of the past few centuries...
and residents of Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
since the mid-19th century. In 1943 he moved with his parents to Jerusalem, where he joined the Irgun
Irgun
The Irgun , or Irgun Zevai Leumi to give it its full title , was a Zionist paramilitary group that operated in Mandate Palestine between 1931 and 1948. It was an offshoot of the earlier and larger Jewish paramilitary organization haHaganah...
while at the same time working at the British Mandate police headquarters. He also went to law school, and continued studying law upon his return to Tel Aviv in 1945.
During the 1948 Arab–Israeli War he served in the Israel Defense Forces
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
as an officer in the Alexandroni Brigade
Alexandroni Brigade
The Alexandroni Brigade is an Israel Defense Forces brigade that fought in the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. Along with the 7th Armoured Brigade both units had 139 killed during the first battle of Latrun - Operation Ben Nun Alef .The unit is currently a reserve unit.-Katz controversy:In 1998, Teddy Katz...
's 35th Battalion. In the reserves, he served in the Adjutant Corps. In 1951 he was formally permitted to practice law and joined the Israel Bar Association
Israel Bar Association
The Israel Bar Association is the bar association for all Israeli lawyers.The Israel Bar is organized as a corporation, with a Central Committee, a National Assembly and five districts. Membership is mandatory for lawyers licensed in Israel. The top positions are filled by elections held every...
, and in September 1966 became a judge. After becoming a judge, he also served in that capacity in the Military Court of Appeals as part of his reserve service. Levin was a judge in the Tel Aviv magistrate court until May 1972, when he was promoted to the district court. In 1979 he became vice-president of the court. In March 1981 he became a provisional Supreme Court justice and was given a permanent tenure on February 15, 1982. In 1988 he presided over a special court that judged John Demjanjuk
John Demjanjuk
John Demjanjuk is a retired Ukrainian-American auto worker who gained notoriety after being accused numerous times of Holocaust-related war crimes....
and in the same year was responsible for disqualifying the Kach
Kach and Kahane Chai
Kach was a far-right political party in Israel. Founded by Rabbi Meir Kahane in the early 1970s, and following his Jewish nationalist ideology , the party entered the Knesset in 1984 after several electoral failures...
party from running for the Knesset
Knesset
The Knesset is the unicameral legislature of Israel, located in Givat Ram, Jerusalem.-Role in Israeli Government :The legislative branch of the Israeli government, the Knesset passes all laws, elects the President and Prime Minister , approves the cabinet, and supervises the work of the government...
.
Levin was publicly active in other fields, heading the National Council for Prevention of Road Accidents and the Israel Football Association
Israel Football Association
The Israel Football Association , also known as IFA, is the governing body of football in Israel. It organizes the football leagues, Israeli Premier League, Israeli State Cup, Toto Cup and the Israeli national football team. The association is based in Ramat Gan...
refereeing departments. In 1995 he quit his official positions and became an arbitrator. In 1997 he was received the Yakir Tel Aviv prize.
Levin had two sons, Eliyahu and Assaf, both of them lawyers. He was also the uncle of poet and translator Amasai Levin
Amasai Levin
Amasai Levin was an Israeli poet and translator. Levin is perhaps best known for his lyrics for Badad , a popular Hebrew song, famous for its performance by Zohar Argov and the subject of many subsequent renditions....
.