Native Milwaukeean Rachel Levin (nee Edelstein) died on April 7 after a short unexpected hospitalization. She was 89.
One of six siblings, she graduated in 1938 from North Division High School and earned a degree in speech pathology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
In Madison, she met Robert H. Levin. After graduation, the young couple moved to Kalamazoo, Mich., where they helped found Parkwyn Village, a communal cooperative that sought to offer affordable housing for people of all races and religions.
In Kalamazoo, she promoted adult literacy by volunteering to teach basic reading and writing. The couple was active in the Congregation of Moses and Rachel served as Sisterhood president.
She also “made her home a welcoming and stimulating sanctuary for family and friends,” her family said, by opening her home to researchers from other countries. Her hobbies included eclectic cooking, knitting, sewing and collecting demitasse cups.
Now with four children, the family moved to Cincinnati in 1968, where Rachel became deeply involved with the Jewish and secular community. She volunteered with Hadassah, ORT America, National Council of Jewish Women and Temple Shalom, among other organizations. She served as a docent at the Hebrew Union College and, with her family, was among the first to sponsor Russian immigrants settling in the area.
The couple was particularly devoted to Israel and traveled there more than a dozen times. A lectureship at their synagogue, Temple Shalom, was established in their name.
“Rae Levin’s life constituted a blessing to her family, to the Jewish people and to the larger family of mankind because she lifted her hands to take action on her words,” said Rabbi Gary Zola at her funeral.
In addition to her husband of 68 years, she is survived by daughters Leslie (Jerry Levy) Stulberg of Chicago and Judith (Max) Schechter of Cincinnati; sons James (Regina) Levin of Pittsburgh, Penn., and Richard (Roberta) Levin of Cincinnati; sisters Mary Waisman of Los Angeles and Charlotte (Marty) Slater of Milwaukee; brother Marvin (Judy) Edelstein of Milwaukee; eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Memorial services and burial were in Cincinnati on April 12. The family would appreciate contributions to Hadassah (50 W. 58 St., New York, NY 10019), MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger (1990 S. Bundy Dr., Suite 260, Los Angeles, CA 90025) or Cedar Village (5467 Cedar Village Dr., Mason, OH 45040).
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