The Bud Levin Impact Scholarship Fund
Bud Levin
Bud Levin
Bernard (Bud) Levin, devoted Zionist, mensch, and lifelong advocate for Jewish causes and the State of Israel, passed away on Memorial Day, May 26, 2025, after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was 88 years old.
Bud was Vice President and World Chairman of the Jewish National Fund’s (JNF) national board. He served as National Campaign Chairman, National Campaign Chairman of the Go North/Blueprint Negev campaign, and National Marketing Chairman. He held several additional leadership roles, including Vice President of Endowments and Special Projects and President of the Los Angeles regional board. Bud was Campaign Chairman for the Jewish Federation of St. Louis, and National Vice Chairman of the United Jewish Appeal (UJA). He led the largest fundraising UJA mission to Israel of its time, The Leadership Gathering, with over 1000 people in attendance. He also served on the national board of the National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership (CLAL).
As a professional fundraiser, Bud played a pivotal role in launching two landmark initiatives: the Partnership for Excellence in Jewish Education (PEJE) and Birthright Israel, working alongside Michael Steinhardt and Rabbi Yitz Greenberg.
A passionate student of Jewish history, Bud believed that to truly understand tzedakah and Jewish fundraising, one must first understand Jewish history.
Bud also served as Chairman of the St. Louis Center for Holocaust Studies, and served as a trustee, campaign chair, and Sunday school teacher at United Hebrew Temple, where he also chaired the capital campaign.
He was Vice President of his family-owned oil and convenience store business, Midwest Petroleum Company, which he helped grow into one of the largest companies of its kind in the Midwest. Though he moved to Los Angeles in 2007, his heart remained in St. Louis.
Bud grew up in Richmond Heights and graduated from Clayton High School in 1954. He went on to attend Washington University in St. Louis, graduating at the top of his class. He began his career in the family business at just 13 years old, driving a gasoline truck, and worked his way up until he eventually took over the business. He also served as a captain in the U.S. Army, 6th Battalion, 35th Armor Regiment.
He married his high school sweetheart, Charlene Blumberg Levin, and they remained married for 30 years until her death in 1989. Together they raised three daughters. He later married his loving wife of 36 years, Judith Mandelkorn Levin, with whom he had one son.
He is survived by his wife Judy Levin, children: Karen Tamaren, Suzy Smith (Nick), Robyn Hubbard, and Max Levin(Stephanie); and his nine grandchildren: Carlye Tamaren, Hannah Shields (Patrick), Elizabeth Tamaren Park (Aaron), Lucas Tamaren, Peter Smith (Claire), Caroline Smith, Olivia Smith, Brae Hubbard, and Lily Hubbard; as well as his great-granddaughter, Millie Rose Shields.
Bud will be remembered as a man of integrity, generosity, and unwavering dedication to his faith, family, and community. Through his philanthropic commitment, his legacy will live on — helping to preserve and protect Israel for generations to come.
Born from a rich tradition of fostering leadership, The Bud Levin Israel Impact Fellowship prepares future Jewish change-makers. When their study abroad is complete, fellows return home as ambassadors for Israel and the Jewish People, armed with the necessary tools
Impact Fellows will receive a merit-based scholarship to the The Muss high school in Israel and selected covers:
• Full Tuition*
• On-Campus Housing & Meals
The Bud Levin Impact fellows provide students the opportunity to explore and discover Israel, cultivate meaningful relationships, gain a global perspective, and acquire a college-prep experience and gain life-long skills they will take on to college campuses and beyond. The experiential study of Muss High School In Israel signature program, guides them through 4,000 years of Jewish and Israeli history — with the land as their classroom — empowers our students to identify their place within the transmission of Jewish history, values, and peoplehood. They are transformed for life.
• Leadership training on campus with AMHSI leadership
• Workshops on critical thinking, social media/marketing and public speaking
• writing and creative assignment
• Collaboration with JNF professionals to speak at events upon their return home
• College credit available
Bud was Vice President and World Chairman of the Jewish National Fund’s (JNF) national board. He served as National Campaign Chairman, National Campaign Chairman of the Go North/Blueprint Negev campaign, and National Marketing Chairman. He held several additional leadership roles, including Vice President of Endowments and Special Projects and President of the Los Angeles regional board. Bud was Campaign Chairman for the Jewish Federation of St. Louis, and National Vice Chairman of the United Jewish Appeal (UJA). He led the largest fundraising UJA mission to Israel of its time, The Leadership Gathering, with over 1000 people in attendance. He also served on the national board of the National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership (CLAL).
As a professional fundraiser, Bud played a pivotal role in launching two landmark initiatives: the Partnership for Excellence in Jewish Education (PEJE) and Birthright Israel, working alongside Michael Steinhardt and Rabbi Yitz Greenberg.
A passionate student of Jewish history, Bud believed that to truly understand tzedakah and Jewish fundraising, one must first understand Jewish history.
Bud also served as Chairman of the St. Louis Center for Holocaust Studies, and served as a trustee, campaign chair, and Sunday school teacher at United Hebrew Temple, where he also chaired the capital campaign.
He was Vice President of his family-owned oil and convenience store business, Midwest Petroleum Company, which he helped grow into one of the largest companies of its kind in the Midwest. Though he moved to Los Angeles in 2007, his heart remained in St. Louis.
Bud grew up in Richmond Heights and graduated from Clayton High School in 1954. He went on to attend Washington University in St. Louis, graduating at the top of his class. He began his career in the family business at just 13 years old, driving a gasoline truck, and worked his way up until he eventually took over the business. He also served as a captain in the U.S. Army, 6th Battalion, 35th Armor Regiment.
He married his high school sweetheart, Charlene Blumberg Levin, and they remained married for 30 years until her death in 1989. Together they raised three daughters. He later married his loving wife of 36 years, Judith Mandelkorn Levin, with whom he had one son.
He is survived by his wife Judy Levin, children: Karen Tamaren, Suzy Smith (Nick), Robyn Hubbard, and Max Levin(Stephanie); and his nine grandchildren: Carlye Tamaren, Hannah Shields (Patrick), Elizabeth Tamaren Park (Aaron), Lucas Tamaren, Peter Smith (Claire), Caroline Smith, Olivia Smith, Brae Hubbard, and Lily Hubbard; as well as his great-granddaughter, Millie Rose Shields.
Bud will be remembered as a man of integrity, generosity, and unwavering dedication to his faith, family, and community. Through his philanthropic commitment, his legacy will live on — helping to preserve and protect Israel for generations to come.
Born from a rich tradition of fostering leadership, The Bud Levin Israel Impact Fellowship prepares future Jewish change-makers. When their study abroad is complete, fellows return home as ambassadors for Israel and the Jewish People, armed with the necessary tools
Impact Fellows will receive a merit-based scholarship to the The Muss high school in Israel and selected covers:
• Full Tuition*
• On-Campus Housing & Meals
The Bud Levin Impact fellows provide students the opportunity to explore and discover Israel, cultivate meaningful relationships, gain a global perspective, and acquire a college-prep experience and gain life-long skills they will take on to college campuses and beyond. The experiential study of Muss High School In Israel signature program, guides them through 4,000 years of Jewish and Israeli history — with the land as their classroom — empowers our students to identify their place within the transmission of Jewish history, values, and peoplehood. They are transformed for life.
• Leadership training on campus with AMHSI leadership
• Workshops on critical thinking, social media/marketing and public speaking
• writing and creative assignment
• Collaboration with JNF professionals to speak at events upon their return home
• College credit available
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