Shalom Leon, father of Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion, died Wednesday at Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv at the age of 92. He leaves behind a legacy marked by devotion to Jewish tradition, honest labor, and generous character.
Leon's life story intertwines with modern Jewish history. Born in Salonika, Greece, to a distinguished Sephardic family that had preserved its original Spanish surname "de Leon" through generations, he came to pre-state Israel in 1935 as a one-year-old infant with his parents. The family initially settled in Jerusalem before making their permanent home in Givatayim, a city near Tel Aviv. That early immigration saved their lives, many extended family members who remained in Greece perished in Auschwitz during the Holocaust.
For decades, Leon earned his living in the automotive industry, managing a garage. Those who knew him describe a man of exceptional integrity who conducted all his business dealings with honesty and unwavering dedication. Beyond his demanding work, he devoted himself to spiritual pursuits. Blessed with a beautiful voice and expertise in liturgical music, he served for decades as cantor at the Heichal Moshe synagogue for Balkan Jews in Givatayim, becoming a pillar of the local community.
He passed his love of music and cantorial tradition to his children, who followed in his path. His son, current Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion, even sang in his youth with the IDF Rabbinate choir. Leon raised accomplished children who contribute to building Israeli society: his son Mayor Moshe Lion, his son Dr. Nissim Leon, and his daughter Prof. Orly Miron, along with grandchildren and descendants who continue his path. His wife, Hannah, passed away several years ago.
The funeral will be held at the Givatayim cemetery, where he will be laid to rest beside his wife. The family will sit shiva at their home in Jerusalem.
