A cornerstone of Leeds University department of Semitic studies, Rabbi Dr Simeon Lowy was senior lecturer for 27 years, with a four-year break as Professor of Hebrew at Witwatersrand University, South Africa.
He came to England in 1957 on a research fellowship at the Institute of Jewish Studies, based first in Manchester and then London. He moved to Leeds as a lecturer in 1960.
He published his doctoral thesis, an academically acclaimed pioneering study on Samaritan Bible Exegisis (textual scrutiny), in 1977.
Born in Czechoslovakia, Simeon (Shimon) and his two younger sisters, one of whom survives him, went to Palestine with their parents in 1934 and settled in Jerusalem.
Although the undeveloped country was a far cry from comfortable Europe, the move saved their lives. Nearly all his remaining family was murdered in the Holocaust.
A yeshivah student, he was 17 when he joined the Palmach, the elite force of the Haganah, the unofficial pre-state army. He served several years as a platoon commander within the religious Company 5, a unit he co-founded and manned with recruits from yeshivot and the B'nei Akiva youth movement.
In Israel's 1948 War of Independence he defended the Jerusalem neighbourhoods of Ramat Rachel, Armon HaNatziv and San Simon, losing many close friends and comrades.
A posting to Haifa to give arms training to European refugee arrivals saved his life, as he would have been in the Lamed Hey (35) group, which was wiped out in an ambush near Kfar Etzion. He held a lifelong conviction that religiously learned Jews should take an active part in the defence of Israel.
His 72-hour wedding leave to Nechama Blass in 1948 was cut short when Count Bernadotte was assassinated by the Irgun, and all Haganah officers were ordered to return to their units.
After the war he gained a degree in Judaic Studies at the Hebrew University with distinction, despite having to work at the same time.
In 1952 he took his young family to the Philippines. While ministering to the Jewish community for five years, he completed his MA in Jewish philosophy and kabbalah (mysticism) under the renowned Gershon Scholem of the Hebrew University.
He received a rare distinction for his insight into a kabbalistic commentary on the rationalist scholar Maimonides' seminal work Guide for the Perplexed.
Though he followed the rationalist school and upheld traditional halachic development, he demonstrated deep knowledge and appreciation of Jewish philosophy and mysticism.
After returning briefly to Israel, he came to Britain to embark on his academic career. Except for a visiting post at Tel Aviv University in 1969 and his four years in South Africa, he stayed at Leeds University until retiring in 1987.
A lecturer in classical, mediaeval and modern Hebrew language, literature and history, he was also active in seminars and publications at the Institute of Jewish Studies at University College London. Academically rigorous, he was external examiner for several British universities.
His love of imparting Judaism and Torah, together with his tolerance and good humour, made him a popular and respected communal figure. He received semichah from Jews' College in 1961 and led High Holy-day services in provincial communities.
From 1962-64 he sat on the Leeds Board of Jewish Education, developing educational programmes, and was the board's member on the Leeds Jewish Representative Council. From 1978 he served as part-time rabbi of Harrogate. His wife developed her own career, teaching children Hebrew and Jewish studies.
In 1999 they moved back to Jerusalem, where their children all lived. Simeon looked after his sick wife until her death in 2001.
During his last years he continued his research into mediaeval Jewish literature while giving Talmud classes in his residential care home.
He is survived by two sons, Michael and Eli; two daughters, Bruria and Galia; grandchildren and great-grandchildren.