Levi Wolowik, the 9-year-old son of the Chabad Shluchim in the Five Towns Rabbi Zalman and Chanie Wolowik, passed away on Shabbos. "He went to sleep normal at night and didn't wake up in the morning," a neighbor told COLlive. The funeral will take place on Sunday, March 1, 1:00 PM.

By COLlive reporter

Levi Wolowik, the 9-year-old son of the Chabad Shluchim in the Five Towns, passed away on Shabbos after suffering from what might be SADS (Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndrome).

Wolowik, a reserved child who always had a shy smile on his face, didn't reply when a family member came to wake him up on Shabbos, February 28 morning.

"He went to sleep normal at night and didn't wake up in the morning," a neighbor told COLlive.

The boy, who learned at the Darchei Torah school in Far Rockaway, made Kiddush and said a Dvar Torah at the Friday night Shabbos meal. "He was playing with kids and seemed normal," a friend of the family said.

His parents Rabbi Zalman and Chanie Wolowik are the Chabad Shluchim to the Five Towns and co-direct a successful Chabad House in Cedarhurst, NY. His grandfather is Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky of Brooklyn, Vice Chairman of Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch.

DINNER NOT CANCELLED

The Wolowiks were set to host their annual dinner celebration titled "Unity in the Community" on Sunday, March 1, honoring donors and supporters.

The event, set to take place at the Grand Ballroom of the Sephardic Temple in Cedarhurst, will not be cancelled, COLlive was told.

A local resident said that Mrs. Wolowik was heard saying that the dinner should be held as the month of Adar is a month of joy.

A "personal message" posted on the Chabad of Five Towns website read: "As difficult this is, The Rabbi & Rebbetzin urge the entire community to participate in Chabad’s Annual Dinner Sunday evening."

FUNERAL AND SHIVA

An Hatzalah ambulance and police were rushed on Shabbos to the Wolowik's home in Woodmere, NY. Shomrei Hadas funeral services arrived at the home on Motzoei Shabbos.

"Levi was a very delicate and cute boy," a local told COLlive who came to the Wolowik's home and said another 30 people are there as well. "Everyone is coming here. People here love them. I have no words. It was a crazy Shabbos."

The funeral will take place on Sunday, March 1, 1:00 PM at the Shomrei Hadas Chapels, 3803 14th Avenue in Brooklyn, and will pass by Lubavitch World Headquarters 770 at 1:45 PM.

If times permits, the funeral will pass Chabad of Five Towns (74 Maple Avenue, Cedarhurst) at 2:30 PM on the way to the Old Montefiore cemetery in Cambria Heights.

Shiva is being observed through Friday morning March 6 at the Wolowik’s home, 748 Central Avenue in Woodmere. Shacharit Monday - Friday at 8:00 AM, Mincha and Maariv Sunday Evening - Friday at 5:40 PM.