Jewish Federation and Jewish Community Foundation of Greater MetroWest NJ are deeply saddened by the passing of one of our community’s legends, Jacqueline “Jackie” Levine z’’l.
Jackie Levine died on August 11, 2025, at the age of 99, in West Caldwell, NJ, leaving behind a remarkable legacy of activism, philanthropy, and leadership.
This loss leaves a significant void in our community. Her far-reaching impact and unwavering devotion to the Jewish community for six decades inspired generations of civil rights, social justice, and peace advocates.
“The enormity of Jackie Levine’s work is practically immeasurable,” stated the Jewish Historical Society of Greater MetroWest NJ, which maintains the Jacqueline Levine Collection.
Jackie blazed many trails as the first woman to hold several senior leadership roles.
In 1965, she became chair of Women’s Philanthropy for the UJA Annual Campaign, known at the time as the Women’s Division Campaign. In a New Jersey Jewish News profile, Jackie recounted fundraising during this time as one of her proudest local accomplishments, “We [Women’s Division] raised the most money that had ever been raised—$360,000. Today, of course, women raise a tremendous portion of the total [$22+ million] campaign. I’m very proud of being part of the campaign these many years.”
Her iconic service to the Jewish community began in 1954, when she joined the American Jewish Congress in opposition to Sen. Joseph McCarthy. She then focused her efforts on civil rights by picketing Woolworth stores for their refusal to seat African-Americans at their lunch counters. She attended the 1963 March on Washington and marched alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. from Selma to Montgomery.
Jackie led as National President for both the Council of Jewish Federations Women’s Division and the American Jewish Congress Women’s Division. During an address at the 1969 General Assembly of the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), her speech called “The Changing Role of Women in the Jewish Community” galvanized women to demand Jewish leadership opportunities, for both lay leaders and professionals.
Jackie continued to be the first in almost everything, the first woman to serve as national chair of American Jewish Congress’ governing council, chair of what is now Federation’s Jewish Community Relations Council, and national chair of what is now the Jewish Council for Public Affairs.
Jackie recalled, “We accomplished a tremendous amount in those years, protecting the separation of church and state and advocating the role of women. It was also the beginning of the Soviet Jewry freedom movement, and I was able to really rouse our community and tell the story of what Soviet Jews were undergoing.”
From 1986 to 1987, Jackie served as national chair of the Mobilization for Soviet Jewry, bringing 250,000 Jews to Washington to protest Soviet policies. She was a founding member of the Jewish Fund for Justice and MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger and served on the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee.
Leslie Dannin Rosenthal, Federation Past President, recalls: “I had the privilege of watching Jackie Levine at work for more than 20 years. She taught me so much, as much by her words as by example. I saw her hold her ground at some of the most important meetings in our local community, standing up for what she thought was right. What really intrigued me was how Jackie did it with a smile, and with graciousness, even toward those with whom she disagreed.”
Maxine B. Murnick, President of JCF, notes: “How fortunate our Greater MetroWest community has been to have Jackie Levine as one of us. And how wonderful it was that Jackie was at our last Women’s Philanthropy gala this past spring and was able to receive the love and admiration of those who have known her, and to see the growth of the women’s community since she was president of Women’s Division. I feel lucky to have known her. She was a true legend and she will be missed.”
Among many honors, Jackie received the prestigious Kipnis-Wilson/Friedland Award in 2010 from JFNA’s National Women’s Philanthropy.
We extend our deepest condolences to her children Ellen Levine Cramer, Stephen Levine (Suzanne), and Ned Levine (Beth Turetsky); grandchildren Hilary Cramer Robinson (Michael), Judd Cramer (Jessica Wagner), Jordan (Madison Perry), Jason (Avery Young), Coby (Venesa Haska) and Ethan; and great grandchildren Annie, Beau, Ira, and Sylvie.
We are all deeply blessed to have known Jackie, and the lessons we learned from her will remain with us forever. May her memory be a blessing. Her dedication has left an enduring legacy on our community with generations of young women following in her footsteps.
Photo credits:
Jackie Levine at the Selma March, 1965.
Jackie Levine, center, picketing at Woolworth’s in 1960.
Jackie Levine, front row far right, at Women’s Philanthropy Empowered Women’s event, April 2025.
Archival photos courtesy of Jewish Historical Society of Greater MetroWest NJ.
