A traveling museum exhibit from The Alexander Levi Heritage Project

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As a Jew of Spanish origin and a French and German speaking immigrant from Alsace, Levi's religion required strict observation of dietary laws and  burial rituals, as well as a prescribed number or participants for services. His liturgy was celebrated in a combination of Judeo-German, and Hebrew and also included archaic Judeo-Spanish and Renaissaince Italian.

Nonetheless, Levi quickly became a very active "new American" and was the first naturalized American to sign a state charter. His successful adaptation to new surroundings, while preserving his identity and heritage, is a story that resonates for current ethnic and religious minorities moving into the region.  

The “immigrant entrepreneur tackles difficult working conditions, makes good and plays a major philanthropic role” is a major theme in America’s story. It is also an important lesson for us all, as we reflect on the choices we make in our lives, on the ways that our choices reflect our characters, and on the obligations we have to our families, our communities of faith and the broader communities where we live and worship.   

Photo Credit:  Image of Levi reprinted from text above, printed in 1904, now in the public domain and available in digitized form at google.com

Could this be where Alexander Levi got his name?

,,,from Alexander the Great and Christianity By Nicholas Martis, Former Minister of the Hellenic Republic translated by Nina Gatzoulis

ALEXANDER & THE HEBREW ARCHPRIESTS

Around 70 A.D. the Hebrew historian Josepus Flavius (Hebrew Archeology, Ch. A 329) states that after the conquest of Tyre and the siege of Gaza, Alexander the Great visited Jerusalem, where right at the entrance of the city he was greeted by the Hebrew Archpriest, Simon the Just, accompanied by other Jewish priests and a multitude of people. Alexander descended his horse and went to greet the Jewish Archpriest. Parmenion, Alexander’s General, approached him and advised Alexander that his soldiers are displeased that he rushed first to greet the Jewish Priest. Alexander however, answered, “I did not greet the Archpriest, but the God he represents.” Following the Archpriest’s indication, Alexander carried out a religious sacrifice at the Temple of Solomon and allowed the Hebrews of Jerusalem and other Jewish states to use their paternal religious rites. Alexander’s act set an original pattern of respect for religious freedom, in an era that such a behavior was totally unprecedented.

However, when Alexander asked the Archpriest for his statue or his portrait to be placed at Solomon’s Temple, the Archpriest responded that the God of the Jews has ordered them that no statues or any other icons should be placed in the Temple. Nonetheless he assured Alexander, “We will do something that will remain in eternity. All the male children that will be born this year to priests and the descendants of the Levi clan, will receive your name, they will be named Alexander.” According to the Talmud (the Jewish religious text of the Rabbis and the religious Rabbi schools) “this is how the name ‘Alexander’ entered the Hebrew society in commemoration of the Great Greek General and it continues to be used for generation after generation.” Let it be noted that many Hebrew individuals bear even to these days the name Alexander.

14th Century French Machzor (prayerbook)                   

 France in the early  19th Century was not reforming liturgy as  was the case in Germany.  In many regions, French liturgy combined Sephardic or Ladino Spanish with Renaissance Italian and Hebrew. Though Levi was Sephardic (of Spanish origin) he was from Alsace-Lorraine and no doubt spoke Judeo-Alsatian (a combination of Hebrew, Alsatian and German) as well as French.

Painting by Celina Levi, daughter of Alexander Levi

A curious excerpt on Alexander Levi...

From United States Jewry, 1776-1985: The Sephardic Period By Jacob Rader Marcus Published by Wayne State University Press, 1989 ISBN 0814321887, 9780814321881