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Writings about Raphael Levens

-2007-

January 11, 2007—1) Raphael Levens was  memorialized by his brother and sister-in-law, Jerry and Rachel Levens, on the website of the Louis Rose Society for the Preservation of Jewish History.

                                 2) A family-placed obituary of Raphael appeared on Page B-7 of the San Diego Union Tribune, "Death and Funeral Notices."  It says:  Levens, Raphael Shalom:  Raphael Shalom Levens, age 65, died unexpectedly on January 7, 2007.  He was preceded in death by his father, Rabbi Monroe Levens, and his mother, Lillian X. Levens. He is survived by his daughter, Elana Levens-Craig; son-in-law Scott Craig, grandchildren Daniel Levens-Lowery and Kristie Craig; brother Jerry Levens and wife Rachel Levens; brother David Levens; nieces and nephews; Kurt, Shane, Phili, Jason, Sara, Kelly and their families; as well as numerous friends and relatives throughout California. Raphael was born in Des Moines, Iowa on July 8, 1941 and moved to San Diego in 1947.  Upon graduating from Hoover High School in 1958, he attended Columbia, UC Berkeley and San Francisco State University.  he completed his education at the USD School of Law and was admitted to the bar in 1972. He worked in the legal area of consumer protection and was affiliated with numerous non-profit organizations throughout his life. Raphael enjoyed spending time with family and friends, reading the New York Times, listening to classical music and attending plays and musicals. His grandson described him as "always helping others before himself."  He was known for his wry sense of humor, love of Judaism, books and learning, liberal politics and partial nature. We will miss his family pranks and gentle spirit.  A memorial service will be held at 11: 00 a.m.on Thursday, January 11, 2007, at Greenwood Cemetery, 4300 Imperial Avenue, San Diego. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Mazon, 1990 S. Bundy Drive, $260, Los Angeles, CA 90025. www.mazon.org.  Please sign the guest book at obituaries.uniontrib.com

                              3) A newspaper generated obituary appeared on page B8, San Diego Union Tribune.  It read: "Raphael S. Levens, July 8, 1`941-Jan. 7, 2007:  Raphael S. Levens, 65, of San Diego died Sunday. He was born in Iowa and was a manager for non-profit organizations.  Survivors include his daughter, Elana Levens-Craig; brothers, Jerry Levens and David Levens, and two grandchildren. Services: 11 a.m. today, Greenwood Memorial Park, 4300 Imperial Ave., San Diego.  Interment: Greenwood Memorial Park.

                             4) Raphael is buried at Greenwood Cemetery in a plot on Shalom Lawn, near the monument to his father, Rabbi Monroe Levens of Tifereth Israel Synagogue.  The funeral service was officiated by Rabbi Wayne Dosick.  Pallbearers were Raphael's brothers, David and Jerry; his son-in-law, Scott Craig, and nephews Jason Levens, Kurt Levens, Philip Levens and Shane Levens.  Speakers included Daniel Levens-Lowery, his grandson; Kelly Levens, his niece who sang Mi Sheberach, and Rachel Levens, his sister-in-law. A beautiful program told of three of Raph's favorite quotations:  On Faith: "It takes three things to attain a sense of significant being. God. A soul.. And a moment. And the three are always here.  Just to be is a blessing. Just to live is holy."—Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel. On Music: "This will be our reply to violence: to make music more intensely, more beautifully, more devotedly than ever before." —Leonard Bernstein. On Humor: "The authenticity of the Dead Sea Scrolls was recently called into question by scholars who found a reference in one of the scrolls to a 1953 Burick."—Woody Allen.