Max S. Levine Explained

Max Samuel Levine
Office1:Judge of the Court of Special Sessions, New York City
Term Start1:1926
Office2:City Magistrate, New York City
Term Start2:1919
Term End2:1926
Birth Date:6 July 1881
Birth Place:Moscow, Russian Empire
Death Place:New York City, New York
Education:New York University School of Law
Occupation:Lawyer, Judge, Politician
Party:Democratic
Spouse:Rae Rosenstein
Children:2

Max Samuel Levine (July 6, 1881 – August 27, 1933) was a Jewish-American lawyer, politician, and judge from New York.

Life

Levine was born on July 6, 1881, in Moscow, Russia, the son of Gregory Levine and Rose Weinstein.[1]

Levine immigrated to America and settled in New York City, New York when he was eight. He graduated from the New York University School of Law in 1902. He then entered political life and became affiliated with Tammany Hall, serving as Tammany district leader in the Second Assembly District at one point.[2] He lived in the Lower East Side since he immigrated to America. He initially sold newspapers while attending evening high school. His first official job was as a temporary clerk in the Tenement House Department under future Thomas C. T. Crain. Crain later swore Levine in as General Sessions Judge in 1927, and Levine in turn swore Crain in as District Attorney in 1931. He was a member of the New York City Board of Aldermen from 1906 to 1914. He became consul to the New York State Labor Department in 1915, and in 1918 he became consul to the New York County Clerk.

Levine was an alternate delegate to the 1916 Democratic National Convention.[3] In 1919, Mayor John Francis Hylan appointed him a City Magistrate to succeed William Blau.[4] He later sought the Democratic nomination for Borough President against incumbent Julius Miller. He then withdrew himself as a candidate as part of a deal with Governor Al Smith, who appointed him judge of the Court of Special Sessions.[5] He was elected for a full fourteen-year term as judge in 1927. He also organized the Grand Street Boys' Association in 1916, serving as its first president and again as its president in 1926, and was vice-president of the National Democratic Club in 1926.

Levine was a director of the Institutional Synagogue. In 1907, he married Rae Rosenstein. He had two children, Mrs. Isabel Romm (wife of Emil Romm) and Hazel. He was also a member of the Freemasons, the Elks, and the Loyal Order of Moose.

Levine died on August 27, 1933[6] at his home. He was in poor health for several months, and while an operation for a stomach ailment three months before his death marked an improvement, his health declined in the six weeks before his death.[7] 2,500 people attended his funeral at Temple Shaare Zedek, including a number of judges, lawyers, city officials, and Tammany leaders, with another 5,000 standing outside. Judge Otto A. Rosalsky, Rabbi Herbert S. Goldstein, and Rabbi Elias Solomon delivered eulogies, with the latter two conducting the service.[8] He was buried in Mount Lebanon Cemetery.[9]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Who's Who in American Jewry, 1928 . The Jewish Biographical Bureau, Inc. . 1928 . Second . New York, N.Y. . 411 . en . FamilySearch.
  2. Book: The Universal Jewish Encyclopedia . The Universal Jewish Encyclopedia, Inc. . 1942 . Landman . Isaac . Isaac Landman . 6 . New York, N.Y. . 634–635 . en . Google Books.
  3. Book: Kremer, J. Bruce . Official Report of the Proceedings of the Democratic National Convention Held in Saint Louis, Missouri June 14, 15 and 16, 1916 . 1916 . 68 . en . HathiTrust.
  4. News: 16 August 1919 . Mayor Names Max S. Levine to Blau's Job as Magistrate . LXXIX . 9 . . 26571 . New York, N.Y. . Chronicling America.
  5. News: 2 January 1926 . F. H. Warder Picked as State Bank Head . LXXV . 1–2 . . 24815 . New York, N.Y. .
  6. Book: The American Jewish Year Book, 5695 . . 1934 . Schneiderman . Harry . Harry Schneiderman . 36 . Philadelphia, P.A. . 283 . en . Google Books.
  7. News: 28 August 1933 . Judge Levine Dies at the Age of 52 . LXXXII . 13 . . 27610 . New York, N.Y. .
  8. News: 30 August 1933 . Thousands Mourn Judge Max Levine . LXXXII . 22 . . 27612 . New York, N.Y. .
  9. News: 30 August 1933 . Rosalsky Gives Eulogy at Levine Funeral Services . X . 3 . . 2635 . New York, N.Y. .