The last night of Chanukah was lit up in Crown Heights with a dazzling show of talent at The Levi Yitzchok Library’s exclusive concert, ‘A Night of Lights’. Audience were captivated by the star-studded line-up: Dalia Shusterman and Perl Wolfe of Bulletproof Stockings, Esther Freeman, Sara Hecht, Chava Shapiro, Mirele Rosenberger, Sarah Dukes, Rivka Leah Cylich, Shaina Brummel, Shaina Mushka Goldstein, Riv Eilfort and Shoshana Michel. With an eclectic mix of musical genres from country-inspired, Jewish-pop to soulful Niggunim and classical Opera, the evening was a veritable celebration of Jewish women’s music at its best! The sell-out concert, in the vintage-inspired, candle-lit library space, was truly a gala affair.
The event was an initiative to both fundraise for the library in support of it’s growing activities, and also reacquaint the Crown Heights community, with one of it’s greatest community treasures.
Addressing the audience, Mrs. Nechamy Segal, related how her father, Rabbi Nechemiah Kessler OB”M was one of the Levi Yitzchok Library’s first dedicated librarians. Under the Lubavitch Youth Organization and Avraham Wachsman, Rabbi Nechemiah Kessler (OB”M), was among the core devotees involved in the library’s establishment. The library was founded in 1972, in honor of Yud Alef Nissan, following the Rebbe’s public address regarding the importance of a communal Jewish Library. Named for the Rebbe’s father, the Rebbe took a personal interest in the library’s activities, encouraging it to be ‘a place not for borrowing books alone, but an environment to engage people in meaningful conversation’.
During its glory days, the Library was a vibrant hub of activity. Stepping foot inside, one would encounter endless tables filled with groups of students and visitors hunched over piles of books, engaged in animated discussion.
About a year ago, the library received a new breath of life by a group of dedicated individuals, who are passionate to actualize it’s full potential, “These Seforim are gems, where our answers lie, where life itself is to be found. But it is not enough that they are on the shelf”, explains one of the library’s dedicated staff members, “When I see the library I see bringing these books – the deep values and truths of the Chassidic library, to life”.
With this vision, and under the direction of Rabbi Shlomo Friedman of Lubavitch Youth Organization, the library has been renovated and now hosts a variety of weekly, seasonal and interest-based activities. In addition to exclusive visiting hours for men, women and families, the library is now home to a variety of successful programs including men’s and ladies’ shiurim, classes, farbrengens, story-time hour, musical Mommy and Me, women’s Chavrusa learning and a young-readers book club. Soon to commence are the young-writer’s publishing club, Chassidic art workshops, and outreach projects for teenagers.
The Library invites the community to share in their vision, “We want it to be a community effort”. From sponsoring a new book in honor of a child’s birthday, volunteering one’s time to restore old Seforim or leading a story-time session, the possibilities for community involvement are endless.
The Levi Yitzchok Library is again a warm, vibrant, community space and so much more. The Library’s doors are open to all with the invitation to “come borrow a book, attend a class” and “become a part of the library’s new chapter in history, today.”
For Library activities and live-updates – visit and ‘like’ the library’s page at https://www.facebook.com/TheLeviYitzchokLibrary or visit us at www.leviyitzchoklibrary.com.
To find out how you can be a part of the library’s projects contact [email protected], 718-778-4598.
Hei Teves at the Levi Yitzchok Library:
**Special Story Time with Morah Nechamy Segal 2:30-3:30 PM ($5 suggested donation per family)
**All members will be allowed to take an extra 3 books!
**Come sign up for library membership in honor of Hei Teves
Library Hours:
Mondays & Wednesdays
3-6pm – Women
Tuesdays & Thursdays
3-6pm – Men
Sunday
12-6pm – Family
Current Programs:
Story Hour
Sunday 2:30pm
(Kids 2-6 yrs old)
Young Readers Book Club
Monday (call for more info)
Musical Mommy and Me
Wednesday 9:30am
(Babies 0-2 yrs old)
Women’s Chavrusah Learning
Wednesday 8-10pm
Men’s Chavrusa Learning
Thursday 8-10pm
Concert photography: www.Moushkiephotography.com
Concert Audio and lighting: Choni Teitlebaum of www.Crownheightsmusic.com
remember how much fun we had???????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So nice to see so many Australians!!!
Keep it up Friedmans
Book club sounds amazing!!!!!:)
the library was a huge part of my childhood. Kol Hakavod for your hard work to bring it back for our children. its such a great resource for our community.
as a young boy i loved going to the library and borrowing tapes for 10 cents
The library is situated at such a terrific location, really ideal for out of town visitors who want to bring children to read from the treasury of books there. So happy to see the times posted in this article. Would it be possible to also post the times on the door of the library, like in the old days? We would love to visit and spend time there on our next trip to NY bezH!
u rock da house!!!
All ma love! shainy b 🙂
Sara Hecht! You were AWESOME!
Keep inspiring with your amazing talent.
What a wonderful and refreshing article. Thank you. There are many wonderful programs here in the Crown heights. But I was especially touched by this article. Thank you to whomever deserves it. Take it from someone who Hashem has given a few challenges to. To know that there’s a place to bring a child that is warm, safe, chasidishe environment is nothing short of refreshing. also, the garden was a complete and beautiful surprise. im looking forward to being part of it next year.
We love you and continue to admire you.
your NJ fans
What a great place to have a Shul on Shabbos 🙂
I cannot believe that it’s taken so long for Esther Freeman to be recognized she is absolutely an amazing gift to Jewish music I cannot wait for more concerts!!!
How proud we should be. That great events happen just steps away from 770.
-chuneh star
In C’H to have the Friedman family who quietly and without too much noise have done much to improv our community both bgashmiyus and bruchniyus… comment # 1 was right…Rabbi Shlome Friedman is a very good kept secret….
But now everyone nows about his very good work and der Eibishter zol im bentschen tzuzammen mit ganze mishpocho….mit gezunt und nachas to continyou his vrery good activities for to better us all. Sorry about my english not so good.
so nice to see a place to build community spirit in crown heights. really important and so beautiful. kol hakavod
The performances were inspiring and the energy in the room was awesome. Thank you Chaya Friedman, Rivka Leah Cylich, the Katz and Friedman families and all of the others involved for organizing such a beautiful, classy evening! May the library continue its activities with much hatzlacha!
Beautiful Dreidel projects! Please share which items were used to make them.
The surface? Type of paint?
Many thanks!
Keep up the good work. And chana and Nechama and Chaya etc. The Friedman families in pittsburgh are shepping nachas.
Thank you Rivky katz!!!!!
Lets give the credit where the credit is do
Thank you Rivky Katz for all you have done in the library.
Wow! so with it, yet all the woman are dressed modestly, kol hakavod
I had no idea this library existed! Kol Hakavod
There are so many wonderful programs going on. Thanks for the slideshow.
Eli Yona
y isnt it mentioned That Reb Doviid Raskin and Rabbi Butman put the library toghter???
R’ Dovid is very proud!!!!
It was an awesome evening!
And rabbi Shlomo Friedman is one of the best kept secrets in our community! A quiet chossid and shliach who just gets it done with zero fanfair or ‘blitah’.