By Marla Brown Fogelman
Attorney and writer Richard Levin, who joined the Jewish Historical Society of Delaware (JHSD) board in the 1970s, attributes his longtime involvement and varied leadership roles in Delaware’s Jewish community to learning one of the scholar Hillel’s sayings from Ethics of the Fathers (Pirkei Avot), particularly “Do not set yourself apart from the community.” Levin said he was first introduced to Hillel’s words of wisdom at Congregation Beth Shalom’s Hebrew school from his teacher, Mrs. Brodinsky (disclaimer: Miriam Brodinsky Gish was my late grandmother).
Levin, who said he has lived most of his life in Wilmington, still values what he learned from what he called “the Hillel trilogy.” As he told me, “When you’re involved in the community, the community becomes part of you.”
Community Leadership
Levin’s leadership roles in Wilmington’s Jewish community span multiple decades. His efforts first started in high school, when he became president of Sigma Alpha Rho, a Jewish high school fraternity; he also served as head of the Jewish Youth Board for a year. Later, as a history major at the University of Delaware (U-Del.), he was president of U-Del.’s Hillel.
In 1971, after receiving his juris doctor (J.D.) degree from the Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C., Levin returned to Wilmington. After several years at the U.S. District Attorney’s office, he opened his own law office and continued to be involved in community leadership efforts. In addition to joining the JHSD board, he served on the executive board of the Jewish Community Center (JCC) and on the board of Congregation Beth Shalom.
Levin also took on further roles at the U-Del. He became a member of U-Del. Hillel’s board—and then, in 1983, he was asked to be an advisor to the AEPi fraternity at the U-Del. He then became involved in the building of a new fraternity house.
In 1990, he served a two-year term as JCC president, and was also on the national board of the JCCA (Jewish Child Care Association).
Participation in JHSD
In relating the trajectory of his JHSD involvement, Levin said he believes he was asked to be part of the first JHSD board because of his connections with both Rabbi Geffen, his congregational rabbi, and with fellow attorney Charlie Keil, who also had a law office at the Market Tower in downtown Wilmington.
“So, I joined [the JHSD] and quite frankly, my only real involvement was in 1976 when there was a multimedia presentation at the JCC called Portal to America,” Levin said.
He described how the event, helmed by journalist Bill Frank and Dr. Ralph Tomases, featured the Wilmington Jewish community in the early 20th century, including the Chesed Shel Emeth and Adas Kodesch synagogues, and portrayals of the Jewish merchants on Second Street. In portraying the old Second Street scenario, Levin said that he took on the role of one of the merchants and that another JHSD board member, Ellen Meyers, played his wife. He told me that he thinks he may still have the script somewhere!
Much later, as a member of the JHSD’s Finance and Development committee, Levin became even more active in the development of the society.
“When the decision came to find a new home, I got more actively involved,” he said. “I negotiated the lease with the Delaware Historical Society, and got involved in the renovation of the Coxe House. But I realized that there would be additional costs.”
To offset the added costs of the renovation, Levin began doing his homework. After learning about a Jewish fundraising project in Texas called the Minyannaires Club, Levin said he brought the idea to the board. The goal was to ask 15 members to donate $10,000 each—and the project proved successful. Levin said that they initially raised over $100,000. At the most recent meeting of the JHSD, he said he learned that the number of funds raised had reached $200,000.
High Hopes for JHSD’s Future
Levin said he is optimistic about what the JHSD’s new home at the Coxe House building can offer, including additional programming and endowing and facilitating research, which he believes will increase community participation.
He also underscored the need to involve children in helping the JHSD to continue to grow.
“If you can involve children, then you can involve parents, grandparents,” Levin said. “Go to the Hebrew schools, teen groups, and have them write down their family histories in Delaware, so that these can become part of the files.”
Having taken that early lesson from the ancient sage Hillel to heart, Levin said he is proud of the role he has played in the evolution of the JHSD. “I helped it grow. I helped it mature,” he said. “And it’s still growing.”
About the Author
MARLA BROWN FOGELMAN is a freelance writer in New York City. Her work has appeared in The Washington Post, Parents, The Forward, Moment, and other national and regional publications. Marla grew up in Wilmington, Delaware. She is the daughter of Faith and Lou Brown z”l.
During the 50th anniversary year of the Jewish Historical Society of Delaware (JHSD) we are presenting three articles about the JHSD founders. The articles were written by Marla Brown Fogelman, daughter of Faith and Lou Brown z”l, who interviewed founders. This month’s article is about Richard Levin, a life-long Wilmingtonian. He was with the JHSD at the beginning and has been pivotal in more recent successes.
Visit JewishLivingDelaware.org to read about Richard’s contributions.
