Gedalia was born in Poland, where his father, Abraham Gedalia Levin [da] was a rabbi. Gedalia followed in his father's footsteps, becoming a rabbi in Gniezno, Poland. In 1782, Gedalia moved to Copenhagen to join his father who had been appointed chief rabbi of Denmark in 1779. After serving as Levin's assistant for several years, Gedalia was named deputy rabbi in 1787.[1]
After his father's death in 1793, Gedalia was named chief rabbi. His 34 years as the leader of Jews in Denmark were marked by the Copenhagen Fire of 1795, which destroyed the congregation's Læderstræde Synagogue, leaving the city's Jews to worship in homes and private synagogues.[2] Gedalia was known for his Talmudic learning and honorable conduct, but he was regarded as "old fashioned" by reform-oriented Danish Jews.[1] As late as 1796, Gedalia had opposed Jews learning Danish.[3]
When Gedalia died in 1827, an attempt was made to install his son, Salomon, as his successor, but Abraham Wolff was appointed instead.
