Born Shlomo Levkovich in Plonsk in the Russian Empire (today in Poland), Lavi received a religious education.

[1] Lavi worked as an agricultural laborer in Petach-Tikva, in an olive oil factory in Haifa, then at the recommendation of Arthur Ruppin as farm manager in Hulda, and together with David Ben-Gurion at Sejera.

[2] Lavi was involved in the establishment of the Jewish defence organisation Hashomer (1909-1920), which he joined as a watchman in the Galilee, in Hedera and Rehovot.

[1] In the wake of World War I, a large influx of Jewish immigrants from the former Russian Empire was to be expected and Lavi looked for ways to prepare for their arrival, both in terms of housing and working places.

[2] Shlomo Lavi spent the late years of his life in Ein Harod, finishing his last book and working in his garden.