Rabbi Joseph Leonard Levy

From Rodeph Sholom Pittsburgh website:
"J. Leonard Levy, a dynamic leader with an internationalist outlook, became Rodef Shalom’s Rabbi in 1901. He had served congregations in Bristol, England; Sacramento, California; and Philadelphia. Rabbi Levy should be noted for his work to strengthen interfaith communication in Pittsburgh and beyond. During his Pittsburgh tenure, he started an international peace organization and co-edited the weekly Jewish Criterion, in addition to preaching at both Sabbath and Sunday services at Rodef Shalom.
At Rabbi Levy’s invitation, President William Howard Taft visited Rodef Shalom on Saturday, May 29, 1909. This was the first time that a sitting United States president spoke from the bimah of a Jewish congregation during regular Sabbath services. During J. Leonard Levy’s rabbinate (1901-1917), Rodef Shalom’s congregation nearly tripled, growing from 132 member families in 1901 to 363 by 1908. Pittsburgh was changing. New immigration patterns brought more Jews to the city and new demographic patterns saw many of these new arrivals and longer-standing congregants moving from Allegheny City and the Hill District to emerging eastern neighborhoods like Oakland, Shadyside, and East Liberty. Nevertheless, more than half of Rodef Shalom’s members still lived near the Allegheny City Temple, so when a move was suggested due to crowded conditions, the congregation opted to expand where it stood."

Dr. J. Leonard Levy
RABBI CONGREGATION RODEPH SHALOM PITTSBURG, PA.
MANAGEMENT BROCKWAY LECTURE BUREAU, 6101 PENN AVE., PITTSBURG, PA.
Dr. J. LEONARD LEVY
For the Season of 1905-1906 Dr. J. Leonard Levy will lecture on the following subjects :
Impressions of Japan
Abraham Lincoln
The Best is Yet to Come
The Struggle for Liberty

Dr. J. LEONARD LEVY WHAT THE PITTSBURG PAPERS SAY
Pittsburg Dispatch
One of the recognized leaders in the movement for universal peace and one of the most aggressive and progressive ministers in Pittsburg is Joseph Leonard Levy, rabbi of Congregation Rodeph Shalom.
It is only a short time since the congregation increased the salary of Rabbi Levy from $10,000 to $12,000 and secured his services for five years more. This probably more than anything else illustrates how popular he has become since he made Pittsburg his home. To Rabbi Levy is due the credit for bringing the Peace Conference to Pittsburg and for making it representative of every religious belief. He is an indefatigable worker, and has done much to advance his church.
Rabbi Levy is still a young man. He was born in London, England, in 1865, the son of Rabbi Solomon Levy. He was educated at Jews' College and received the degree of bachelor of arts from the University College, London. He became rabbi in the Hebrew congregation of Bristol, England, later of the Congregation B'nai Israel, at Sacramento, Cal., and of the Congregation Keneseth Israel, at Philadelphia.
Pittsburg Post
Dr. J. Leonard Levy is one of twelve Pitts-burgers who have a national and international reputation. The other eleven are George Westinghouse, Dr. W. J. Holland, Andrew Carnegie, H. C. Frick, Prof. John Brashear, Charles M. Schwab, Justice George Shiras, Henry Phipps, W. E. Corey, Senator Philander C. Knox and David T. Watson.
The Pittsburgh Leader
His great natural gifts and seemingly exhaust-less capacity for work have elevated him to a position probably higher than any other rabbi in the country. He serves one of the largest congregations in the United States and is recognized as such a power that his congregation has settled upon him the almost unparalleled salary of $12,000 a year. ******
His success as a rabbi and in the recent Peace movement, may possibly be explained from the fact that through all his spiritual fervor he is still revealed as a manly, many-sided man. The ringing tones of his full, rich voice which carried over his big audience and touched sympathetic chords in the hearts of all his hearers, was not developed in a school of elocution or declamation, but was broadened and strengthened on the cricket and football field while, as a young theological student he was preparing himself in England for his life work.
Pittsburg Chronicle-Telegraph
Rabbi J. Leonard Levy has achieved a commanding position in this community, and his congregation has appreciated his remarkable abilities to the extent of making him one of the highest paid clergymen in the whole world.
Pittsburg Gazette
The Rev. Dr. J. Leonard Levy, who leaves on Saturday for Japan on a very important mission, has come to be one of the most influential men in public life in Western Pennsylvania. As an orator and scholar he has no peer. His Sunday lectures have proven a revelation and thousands have flocked to hear these wonderful discourses.
From "Success" Magazine, New York
Few men under forty have accomplished so much as Joseph Leonard Levy, rabbi of Reform Congregation Rodeph Shalom, of Pittsburg. Not only in his special field of congregational work, but also as an orator and writer, he has attained conspicuous success. He has published eight volumes of lectures and essays, founded the Philadelphia Sterilized Milk, Ice and Coal Society, the " Home of Delight," a slum settlement, was one of the founders of the Transatlantic Society of America and of the Southern Religious Society of Philadelphia. The breadth of his interests is indicated by his strong advocacy of " equitable protection," by his assistance in the work for the negroes at Tuskegee, and similar institutions.
Dr. J. LEONARD LEVY
PRESS COMMENTS Sacramento, Cal. Bee
Rabbi Levy, by his broad liberality, his sympathetic nature, the purity of his teachings, his great intellectuality, and his genial disposition, endeared himself to all classes in Sacramento, Seldom does even a clergyman possess so many commendable attributes of character.
Erie, Pa. Daily Times •
Dr. Levy's address fully sustained the brilliant reputation which had preceded him. His subject dealt with the advancement of the human race, and began with earliest history of the achievements and advancement of man, socially and politically, and proved that the human race has ever progressed Dr. Levy is a speaker of rare charm and great brilliancy; he holds the interest of his audience with every word; his wit is keen, his logic strong, and any subject he might handle would immediately be invested with a new interest. Dr. Levy is so widely known as a brilliant orator, eminent philanthropist, and great organizer in America, of the Inter-national Peace society, that any detailed mention of his works seems superfluous.
Beaver Falls, Pa. Daily Tribune
Rabbi J. Levy delivered a most beautiful tribute to the pure, innocent, beautiful child, in the Lyceum last evening. The lecture was for the benefit of the children's ward of the Beaver Valley General Hospital. A large audience was present to hear a discussion of the theme,' 'A Little Child Shall Lead Them, in the Rabbi's own inimitable manner.
Bradford, Pa. Era
The home and its affairs were elaborately discussed, the broad humanitarianism of the speaker being evidenced in the uplifting conclusions which rounded out his apt and vivid word pictures. The audience was spellbound by the charm of his eloquence, and frequent hearty applause denoted the pleasure of the listeners. It was one of the finest public addresses heard here in a long time.
New Brighton, Pa. Daily News
A large, intelligent and highly appreciative audience filled the lecture room of the Presbyterian Church, New Brighton, last night, and for almost two hours sat eager to grasp every word that fell from the lips of Rabbi J. Leonard Levy, concerning the much abused Russian Jews, a story of which so little is known by the American people. Dr. Levy is a man of national reputation as a rabbi, historian, orator, and civic worker. He is now located in Pittsburg, having come there from Philadelphia, in 1901. The Woman's Club are certainly to be congratulated on getting Dr. Levy to lecture in New Brighton, and their friends, especially the members of the Men's Club, are grateful to them for their invitation to hear Dr. Levy.
Charleroi, Pa. Daily Mail
The lecture continued less than an hour and a half, but it was full of thought from beginning to end and furnished much food for reflection. The speaker's strong oratory, eloquent language, beautiful illustrations and wonderful truths greatly impressed his hearers. Dr. Levy was introduced by John K. Tener, who said that Dr. Levy's work is the elevating of mankind; his ideals are the highest, his charities are the broadest, and that Charleroi was honored in having him here.
Washington, Pa. Observer
Rabbi Levy, of Pittsburg, addressed a very enthusiastic audience in the gymnasium of the Y. M. C. A. last evening for the first time in Washington. Dr. Levy's subject was Marching On. He spoke very fully on the condition of the United States now and in the past, and prophesied great things for us in the future.
photo: https://historicpittsburgh.org/islandora/object/pitt:20121102-hpicr...
https://www.timesofisrael.com/buried-trunk-at-pittsburgh-synagogue-...
https://jewishchronicle.timesofisrael.com/topic/rabbi-j-leonard-levy

DISTINGUISHED JEWISH CLERGYMAN IS VICTIM OF PNEUMONIA
Pittsburgh, April 28 — The Rev. Dr. J. Leonard Levy, rabbi of Rodeph Shalom Congregation, one of the most distinguished clergymen in this country, is dead here from pneumonia. He had been ill since Monday at his home in the East End section.
Dr. Levy was born in London, England, November 24, 1865, and his father was the Rev. Solomon Levy. Dr. Levy was vice president of the Eastern Council of Reformed Rabbis. He was graduated with honors from the University of London in 1884 and studied at the University of Bristol before coming to America in 1889.
Prior to taking charge of the Rodeph Shalom Congregation, in 1901, he had been a rabbi at Sacramento, Cal., and was in charge of Temple Keneseth Israel, Philadelphia. In 1908, he introduced the interdenominational Thanksgiving service in Pittsburgh. He was founder of the Philadelphia Sterilized Milk, Ice and Coal society, and was a trustee of the Hebrew Union college, at Cincinnati. He was also a trustee of the National Hospital for Consumptives, Denver; the Universal Peace Union, the University of Pittsburgh and the Tuberculosis League. He was a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, of England, and was a member of various other societies and clubs. In 1888, Dr. Levy married Miss Henrietta Platnauer of Bristol, England.
Source: Bridgeport Evening Farmer (Bridgeport, CT) of 28 April 1917.
In 1901 J. Leonard Levy became Rodef Shalom's Rabbi. At Rabbi Levy's invitation, President William Howard Taft visited Rodef Shalom on Saturday, May 29, 1909. This was the first time that a sitting United States president spoke from the bimah of a Jewish congregation during regular Sabbath services. During J. Leonard Levy's rabbinate (1901–1917), Rodef Shalom's congregation nearly tripled, growing from 132 member families in 1901 to 363 by 1908.
More on him and the history of Rodef Shalom here: http://rodefshalom.org/about-rodef-shalom/history
Inscription
"HE STROVE TO BE A TEACHER OF / GOD'S WORD AND TO LIVE IT."