Tzvika Levy, advocate for Israel's lone soldiers, passes away at 70

"He made giving his life's work, and thousands of lone soldiers found a home in the IDF and Israel thanks to him."

By ALON EINHORN
Updated: DECEMBER 29, 2018 23:59
Tzvika Levy. (photo credit: Courtesy)
Tzvika Levy.
(photo credit: Courtesy)
Tzvika Levy, a leading advocate for Israel’s lone soldiers, passed away at the age of 70 on Saturday. Levy was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in 2016.
Levy, known as “the father of lone soldiers,” received the Israel Prize for Life Achievement in 2017 for his work on behalf of lone soldiers and the families of IDF soldiers lost in combat.
“Tzvika Levy: a warrior, a friend and a father,” said former IDF chief of staff and leader of the new Israel Resilience Party Benny Gantz said. “Tzvika was called ‘father’ by his biological children as well as by lone soldiers for being so caring and loving. Even in his last days, he never stopped fighting his disease and continued being a father and a friend. I treasure years of pleasant memories and appreciation for Tzvika. I too loved him, as everyone did.”
“Tzvika passed away and the pain is immense,” said chairman of the Knesset’s Lobby for Lone Soldiers Itzik Shmuli wrote. “He made giving his life’s work, and thousands of lone soldiers found a home in the IDF and Israel thanks to him. I saw how stubbornly he fought to help the soldiers, even from his deathbed. You will be greatly missed.”
“A man who loved and supported our soldiers,” MK Amir Peretz said. “This morning thousands of soldiers became fatherless.”
Levy was “full of kindness and love of mankind,” according to a joint statement by IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot and incoming Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi. “For decades, Tzvika fought for the lone soldiers, encouraged their aliyah to Israel and organized homes and adoptive families for them.”
“The spirit of his blessed work will accompany the IDF and is carried out practically every day by its commanders,” they said. “The IDF bows its head for the death of Tzvika Levy, a dear and benevolent man, and mourns with his wife Naomi and his children.”


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