Zola Levitt was a Jewish Christian who shared the gospel “through Jewish eyes.” He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to a German Reform Jewish family. Zola accepted Yeshua Ha Mashiach (Jesus the Christ) as his Messiah in 1971. He had held music degrees from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and completed doctoral course work Indiana University. He later received an honorary Th.D. from Faith Bible College in Dallas, Texas. Zola loved music and played the oboe, English horn, recorder and piano.
Zola Levitt wrote more than fifty books, some published in several different languages and he composed about two hundred spiritual songs. His two musicals, Beloved Thief and Mine Eyes Have Seen were televised nationally while he was still alive. The book titled: Coming: The End! Russia & Israel in Prophecy with Dr. Thomas S. McCall was an updated release of Zola’s book, The Coming Russian Invasion of Israel. One chapter, “A Strategy for Unbelievers,” even tells the unsaved how to cope with the Tribulation period. In reference to this book, Hal Lindsey stated this: “A must for everyone who wants to know where we are on God’s timetable.”
Zola was best known as the host for his television and radio shows. Zola Levitt Presents and also as the host of two top-rated radio talk shows, The Heart of the Matter in Dallas and the nationally syndicated Zola Levitt Live. Zola was also lecturer and tour host on more than eighty trips to Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, the areas of the seven churches Mediterranean islands, European capitals and other destinations. He once taught a course titled Christ in the Old Testament at Dallas Baptist University and gave seminars at other educational institutions. His emphasis was most often on the prophetic Word especially in relation to Israel and the Jewish people–the roots of Christianity.
His national television program, Zola Levitt Presents aired on INSP, Day Star and Ion Television, and until August 28, 2006, was seen on TBN and hosted for a time by Jeffrey Seif. His ministry still offers a correspondence course entitled The Institute of Jewish-Christian Studies, which teaches the Jewish roots of the Christian faith. It also publishes a monthly newsletter, the Levitt Letter.
Zola took his last breath in Dallas on April 19, 2006 and died of lung cancer. His various ministries are still maintained by former staff and new friends of the website ministry, committed to carrying on the work Zola Levitt started. He will always be remembered for saying “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem” at the end of his TV broadcasts. We should all be praying for the “peace of Jerusalem” as Zola so rightly taught from the Scriptures.