Ze’ev Lev
Encyclopedia
Ze'ev Lev , an Israeli physicist, Torah scholar, and founder of the Jerusalem College of Technology
, was named William Low when born in Vienna
. After being educated in Europe, Canada and the U.S., and having lost his parents and sister in the Holocaust, he became one of Israel
’s leading scientists and educators.
in 1934. At the age of 16, he was able to leave Germany in order to study at the Gateshead Yeshiva
in England, thereby avoiding the fate of all other members of his immediate family.
Having decided to enter the academic world rather than become a rabbi like his grandfather, he obtained a scholarship to Queen's University
in Ontario
, Canada and graduated with honors. He then received his master’s degree and doctorate at Columbia University
in New York City
, where he studied with Nobel Prize
laureate Isidor Isaac Rabi
.
With his wife, Dvora Lederer, he moved to Israel in 1950, adopting his grandfather’s name, Ze'ev, and changing his last name to Lev. This name, like the Germanic version Low, indicated he was a descendent of the tribe of Levi
.
. He became a worldwide expert in this field, and his research led to the development of microwave and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) devices.
Later in the 1960s, Lev decided there was a need for a college in Jerusalem that combined scientific study with the study of the Torah
. Despite initial resistance from some rabbis and educators, the institution he started with seven students in 1969 grew to have an enrollment of more than 2,000, becoming one of Israel’s four accredited engineering schools.
Lev led the development of the Jerusalem College of Technology for ten years, and afterwards continued to do research and academic work. His scientific articles covered subjects including atomic physics and shock waves, and he also wrote about science in relation to the Torah.
, ultra-Orthodox women, and members of the Ethiopian immigrant community. Many of its alumni have joined Israeli high-tech firms.
Lev had five children, and after the death of his first wife, he married Sarah Katzburg. In his later years he also devoted himself to compiling a family tree of the Low family. It started with his great-grandfather’s life in Poland during the early 19th century and has grown to include approximately 1,000 descendents.
Jerusalem College of Technology
The Jerusalem College of Technology , , is an Orthodox Jewish college. JCT's main campus are situated in the Givat Mordechai neighbourhood of Jerusalem. Other branches are located in the Givat Shaul neighbourhood of Jerusalem and Ramat Gan...
, was named William Low when born in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
. After being educated in Europe, Canada and the U.S., and having lost his parents and sister in the Holocaust, he became one of Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
’s leading scientists and educators.
Early years
Lev was born into a Chassidic family that moved from Vienna to BerlinBerlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
in 1934. At the age of 16, he was able to leave Germany in order to study at the Gateshead Yeshiva
Gateshead Talmudical College
Gateshead Talmudical College , popularly known as Gateshead Yeshiva, is located in the town of Gateshead in England. It is the largest yeshiva in Europe and considered to be one of the most prestigious advanced yeshivas in the Orthodox world. The student body currently numbers 350...
in England, thereby avoiding the fate of all other members of his immediate family.
Having decided to enter the academic world rather than become a rabbi like his grandfather, he obtained a scholarship to Queen's University
Queen's University
Queen's University, , is a public research university located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded on 16 October 1841, the university pre-dates the founding of Canada by 26 years. Queen's holds more more than of land throughout Ontario as well as Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England...
in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada and graduated with honors. He then received his master’s degree and doctorate at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, where he studied with Nobel Prize
Nobel Prize
The Nobel Prizes are annual international awards bestowed by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural and scientific advances. The will of the Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established the prizes in 1895...
laureate Isidor Isaac Rabi
Isidor Isaac Rabi
Isidor Isaac Rabi was a Galician-born American physicist and Nobel laureate recognized in 1944 for his discovery of nuclear magnetic resonance.-Early years:...
.
With his wife, Dvora Lederer, he moved to Israel in 1950, adopting his grandfather’s name, Ze'ev, and changing his last name to Lev. This name, like the Germanic version Low, indicated he was a descendent of the tribe of Levi
Levi
Levi/Levy was, according to the Book of Genesis, the third son of Jacob and Leah, and the founder of the Israelite Tribe of Levi ; however Peake's commentary suggests this as postdiction, an eponymous metaphor providing an aetiology of the connectedness of the tribe to others in the Israelite...
.
Work in Israel
Lev took a position as a lecturer in paramagnetic resonance at Hebrew University of JerusalemHebrew University of Jerusalem
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem ; ; abbreviated HUJI) is Israel's second-oldest university, after the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. The Hebrew University has three campuses in Jerusalem and one in Rehovot. The world's largest Jewish studies library is located on its Edmond J...
. He became a worldwide expert in this field, and his research led to the development of microwave and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) devices.
Later in the 1960s, Lev decided there was a need for a college in Jerusalem that combined scientific study with the study of the Torah
Torah
Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five...
. Despite initial resistance from some rabbis and educators, the institution he started with seven students in 1969 grew to have an enrollment of more than 2,000, becoming one of Israel’s four accredited engineering schools.
Lev led the development of the Jerusalem College of Technology for ten years, and afterwards continued to do research and academic work. His scientific articles covered subjects including atomic physics and shock waves, and he also wrote about science in relation to the Torah.
Legacy
The Jerusalem College of Technology has developed special programs for high school students, members of the Israel Defense ForcesIsrael 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...
, ultra-Orthodox women, and members of the Ethiopian immigrant community. Many of its alumni have joined Israeli high-tech firms.
Lev had five children, and after the death of his first wife, he married Sarah Katzburg. In his later years he also devoted himself to compiling a family tree of the Low family. It started with his great-grandfather’s life in Poland during the early 19th century and has grown to include approximately 1,000 descendents.
Further reading
- Low, W. Genealogy of Family Low, English version.
- Siegel-Itzhovich, Judy. His Heart Was in the Future. Jerusalem Post, October 31, 2004.