I didn't know Galya Levy, but I do know her mother, Sharon, who together with her family recently marked the one-year yarhzeit (anniversary) of her passing. Sharon, a former South African who lives in Jerusalem, sent me the story of Galya’s life as it was written in Hebrew on the Israeli government memorial website (www.izkor.gov.il). We aren’t permitted to give more details about Galya Levy’s immense contribution to the State of Israel. But we can pay tribute to her by presenting the story of her life, here in English for the first time.
The daughter of Sharon and Zofer and sister of Shai, Galya was born on April 12, 1975 in South Africa to a family with strong Jewish and Zionist values. In 1976, she made aliyah with her family and they became members of Kibbutz Na’an. They returned to South Africa in 1984.
Galya came back to Israel by herself in 1994, joined the IDF as a lone soldier, served in Tze’elim in the Negev, and completed a degree in software engineering.
She joined the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) in 2004 and began working in an important and highly sensitive field.
She loved her work, and operated out of a deep commitment and faith in the justice of her path.
Over the course of the following years, she became a content expert and even contributed chapters to a book on the work of the division in which she served. Galya was wise and creative, exploring issues in depth, challenging the system with key questions and inspiring her colleagues to consider things more thoroughly and precisely.
She believed with all her heart in carrying out her duties to the best of her ability while maintaining modesty and humility, and she was considered a strong, principled and sensitive woman. Her special personality drew others to follow her in a variety of ways.
Galya married Shmulik and they had three children – Hila, Adi and Shira. Her family was the anchor of her life, and she felt blessed by them and infinite love for them. She always said that her home was the most precious thing for her. And she also helped her parents return to Israel and resettle here.
In her last years, Galya studied for a second degree in Judaism while battling bravely against cancer, which ultimately defeated her. Galya died on July 23, 2019, at the age of 44, and was buried at the Mount Herzl Military Cemetery in Jerusalem. She is survived by her husband, children, parents and brother.
Her family decided to commemorate Galya with this verse from Kings I, 8-29: “That your eyes may be open night and day toward this house, the place of which you have said, ‘My name shall be there.’” Galya’s legacy is preserved at the Israel Intelligence Heritage & Commemoration Center in Glilot, a memorial for the fallen from all branches of Israel’s intelligence community.
May her memory be blessed and her family comforted by their memories of the wonderful person she clearly was and the wonderful things she did for them and for the State of Israel.