Stella Levy
Encyclopedia
Stella Levy was an Israel
i soldier and politician.
in 1924, Levy made aliyah
to Mandate Palestine in 1929. She attended the Hebrew Reali School
in Haifa
, and later studied psychology at the University of Haifa
and political science and art at Tel Aviv University
.
Levy joined the Haganah
during her youth, and during World War II
she served in the Communications Corps of the British Army
between 1942 and 1946. After Israeli independence in 1948, she completed the first IDF
officers' training course, and commanded the Women's Corps
platoon of the Carmel Brigade between 1948 and 1949. She completed a battalion commanders course in 1949, and in 1951 became head of the Women's Corps in the Northern Command. From 1964 until 1970 she served as commander of the Women's Corps. From 1970 until 1974 she worked as a military emissary to the United States
, before being demobilised with the rank of colonel in 1974.
In 1974 she helped form the Civil Guard subdivision of Israel Police
, and served in it until 1976. The following year she joined the Democratic Movement for Change
. She was on the party's list for the 1977 Knesset elections
, but failed to win a seat. She entered the Knesset on 20 February 1981 as a replacement for Stef Wertheimer
, and chose to join the Shinui faction (the Democratic Movement of Change had split into several parties in 1978). However, she lost her seat in the June 1981 elections
.
Outside of politics, Levy wa salso a member of the Zionist Executive Committee and on the board of the Israeli branch of the World Jewish Congress
.
She died in July 1999.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i soldier and politician.
Biography
Born in SyriaSyria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
in 1924, Levy made aliyah
Aliyah
Aliyah is the immigration of Jews to the Land of Israel . It is a basic tenet of Zionist ideology. The opposite action, emigration from Israel, is referred to as yerida . The return to the Holy Land has been a Jewish aspiration since the Babylonian exile...
to Mandate Palestine in 1929. She attended the Hebrew Reali School
Hebrew Reali School
The Hebrew Reali School of Haifa , located in Haifa, Israel, is one of the country's oldest private schools.-History:...
in Haifa
Haifa
Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher...
, and later studied psychology at the University of Haifa
University of Haifa
The University of Haifa is a university in Haifa, Israel.The University of Haifa was founded in 1963 by Haifa mayor Abba Hushi, to operate under the academic auspices of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem....
and political science and art at Tel Aviv University
Tel Aviv University
Tel Aviv University is a public university located in Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv, Israel. With nearly 30,000 students, TAU is Israel's largest university.-History:...
.
Levy joined the Haganah
Haganah
Haganah was a Jewish paramilitary organization in what was then the British Mandate of Palestine from 1920 to 1948, which later became the core of the Israel Defense Forces.- Origins :...
during her youth, and during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
she served in the Communications Corps of the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
between 1942 and 1946. After Israeli independence in 1948, she completed the first IDF
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
officers' training course, and commanded the Women's Corps
Women's Affairs advisor
The Women's Affairs advisor to the Chief of Staff is a female officer in the Israel Defense Forces, in charge of promoting freedom of opportunities for women soldiers so as to better develop their abilities and talents in the military, and to provide them with a functional, suitable and diverse...
platoon of the Carmel Brigade between 1948 and 1949. She completed a battalion commanders course in 1949, and in 1951 became head of the Women's Corps in the Northern Command. From 1964 until 1970 she served as commander of the Women's Corps. From 1970 until 1974 she worked as a military emissary to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, before being demobilised with the rank of colonel in 1974.
In 1974 she helped form the Civil Guard subdivision of Israel Police
Israel Police
The Israel Police is the civilian police force of Israel. As with most other police forces in the world, its duties include crime fighting, traffic control, maintaining public safety, and counter-terrorism...
, and served in it until 1976. The following year she joined the Democratic Movement for Change
Democratic Movement for Change
The Democratic Movement for Change , commonly known by its Hebrew acronym Dash was a short-lived and initially highly-successful centrist political party in Israel...
. She was on the party's list for the 1977 Knesset elections
Israeli legislative election, 1977
The Elections for the ninth Knesset were held on 17 May 1977. For the first time in Israeli political history, the right-wing, led by Likud, won the election, ending almost 30 years of rule by the left-wing Alignment and its predecessor, Mapai...
, but failed to win a seat. She entered the Knesset on 20 February 1981 as a replacement for Stef Wertheimer
Stef Wertheimer
Stef Wertheimer is a German-born Israeli entrepreneur and industrialist, a former Member of the Knesset, and is well known for founding industrial parks in Israel and neighboring countries.-Early life:Wertheimer was born in Kippenheim, Germany...
, and chose to join the Shinui faction (the Democratic Movement of Change had split into several parties in 1978). However, she lost her seat in the June 1981 elections
Israeli legislative election, 1981
Elections for the tenth Knesset were held in Israel on 30 June 1981. Despite last minute polls suggesting a victory for Shimon Peres's Alignment, Menachem Begin's Likud won by just one seat...
.
Outside of politics, Levy wa salso a member of the Zionist Executive Committee and on the board of the Israeli branch of the World Jewish Congress
World Jewish Congress
The World Jewish Congress was founded in Geneva, Switzerland, in August 1936 as an international federation of Jewish communities and organizations...
.
She died in July 1999.