Philadelphia Public Art @philart.net
Artist: Gregory Pototsky
Commodore Uriah Phillips Levy
Gregory Pototsky,
2011
* Statue of, in memory of: Uriah Phillips Levy
and
James A. Zimble
* small
standing person,
sword,
paper,
Star of David and U.S. Navy logo
* inscription:
April 22, 1792 - March 22, 1862
Nissan 30, 5552 - Adar II 20, 5622
"I am an American, a sailor, and a Jew."
Born in Philadelphia in 1792, Uriah Phillips Levy was a fifth generation
American. According to family stories, he left for sea at ten years old,
returning to celebrate his bar mitzvah here at Congregation Mikveh
Israel in 1805. He served with distinction in the U.S. Navy in the War of
1812, and became the first Jewish U.S. Navy Commodore, a rank
equivalent to Admiral today.
During his fifty-year naval career, Levy was court martialed six times
and killed a man in a duel - all incidents related to rampant
anti-Semitism. He was dismissed twice from the U.S. Navy, but was
reinstated by Presidents James Monroe and John Tyler. He went on to
command the Mediterranean Fleet and was appointed by President
Abraham Lincoln to the Navy Court Martial Board during the Civil
War. Levy played a key role in helping to repeal the flogging of sailors,
making the U.S. Navy the first military organization in the world to
abolish physical punishment.
Levy greatly admired President Thomas Jefferson and the Bill of Rights
he crafted, which safeguarded religious liberties for all Americans. In
1832, he commissioned a statue of Jefferson, which sits in the U.S.
Capitol today. In 1834, Levy purchased Monticello, Jefferson's home
near Charlottesville, Virginia, which he repaired, restored, and preserved
for future generations.
The World War II destroyer escort USS Levy (DE-162) was named in his
honor, as were the Uriah P. Levy Jewish Chapel at the Norfolk Naval Base
in Virginia, and the Commodore Uriah P. Levy Center and Jewish Chapel
at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Levy is
buried at the Beth Olom Cemetery in Queens, New York.
Given with love of God and Country
in memory of
Vice Admiral James A. Zimble, MC USN Ret. (1933-2011)
Beloved 30th Surgeon General of the U.S. Navy
Dedicated December 16, 2011, Kislev 20, 5772
Rabbi Aaron Landes, Rear Admiral CHC USN Ret.
Captain Gary "Yuri" Tabach, USN Ret.
Joshua H. Landes
* West side of Mikveh Israel.
East side of 5th, North of Market.
* 39.951325,-75.148400 [map] [nearby]
* On the Independence Mall tour
* Exhibits: Religious,
War
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Uriah P. Levy page
+wikipedia.org's James A, Zimble page
+mikvehisrael.org
