This past week a precious gem was taken from Klall Yisroel and specifically from the NCSY family. I met Marty LeVine A”H at National Convention at the Pineview Hotel in 1980. He was a candidate for National office pressing the flesh. His handshake was different from most candidates, the warmth and genuine “great to meet you” was authentic, I could feel it.
Marty was born with heart defect, suffered a heart attack at the age of 18 and ultimately 40 years later (doubtless that the outpouring of tefilos then contributed to granting him 40 more years) died of heart complications. The Marty I got to know before his heart attack was an incredible human being, and incredible friend. Somehow, hundreds of Marty’s peers bragged they were his best friend. He had the ability to make each one feel like they were his BFF (a term not yet coined at the time). Ironic how physically challenged he was with his heart, yet it was his heart that he gave abundantly and fully to each friend.
Elected Regional President of the Southern “Or HaNegev” Region in 1979, Then to National Office in 1980, Marty was just as comfortable and inspirational with a microphone in his hand sharing a vort, thought or feeling, as he was standing in the audience with his arm around the shoulders of the new guy or his friend facing a particular challenge. Intuitively, he knew where to be to have the maximum impact.
During a tumultuous time in Memphis between the 2 shuls, Marty, a teenager then, knew how to speak to the rabbis, the lay leaders and accomplish what was needed for NCSY or individuals. He knew how to communicate with the most persuasive words possible peppered with an acute sense of humor. In context, this would be an amazing accomplishment for any of the lay leaders, but at the time Marty was 16, 17 and 18! At the levaya Rabbi Michoel Rovinsky quoted Marty’s mother, Faye LeVine, saying “Marty
lived a life of miracles (appropriate he was taken from us on Channuka), but his miracles just ran out.” His incredible impact on people, on his community and on NCSY for a young man of his age was just that, a miracle.
Marty was at the same time an optimist and a realist. In a personal conversation we had, he related he needed to leave NCSY go to yeshiva to dive into the world of Torah learning, undistracted. He knew to grow into a bigger mench he needed the Torah foundation in a far deeper level than high school was able to provide. He also shared he chose Yeshivat Ohr Dovid because he was a thinker and had questions. He didn’t feel they would sweep the questions under the rug bur help him explore the Torah
philosophies on a meaningful basis how they relate to him and his life. That resonated with me as well and I ended up applying for and attending the same Yeshiva. In hindsight, it’s amazingly inspiring how an accomplished NCSY superstar could humble himself and realized there is another level and another path to pursue for growth.
His family, friends and admirers mourn his loss and hope his memory will be a blessing and an inspiration forever.
Mark Schaffel
