9-year-old, Now Gone, Lives On

By Paul Shapiro, Herald Community

Following the death of their son from complications of the influenza A virus, Rabbi Zalman and Rebbetzin Chanie Wolowik are making sure that the memory of 9-year-old Levi Yitzchak Wolowik lives on in the Five Towns.

The couple, who co-direct the Chabad of the Five Towns, announced the establishment of the Levi Yitzchak Jewish Children’s Library in a post on the Chabad’s Web site on March 6.

“Chanie and I, along with a group of family and friends, have decided to launch the Levi Yitzchak Jewish Children’s Library — a place where children can study and immerse themselves in a Jewish book,” the couple said in the post. “A place where Levi would have found himself happy and at home.”

The lending library, which will be located within the Five Towns, will be a resource for parents as well as children, according to the Wolowiks. There are plans to include a wide range of children’s books on Jewish themes, books on parenting and education, a homework and research center and a multi-media center.

“The library is a great idea whose time is now,” Ellen Frank Bayer posted on the site. “Much joy and happiness will be gained by the community by the addition of this great resource.”

Shainy Blau, a close friend of the Wolowiks’ and a consultant to Chabad of the Five Towns, said that the couple wanted to do something for children while remembering their son.

“Everyone knows that they think really big,” Blau said. “Chanie and the rabbi thought of this library as a way to eternalize Levi’s life and offer something special for kids in the community. This is really answering a need for the Five Towns. The children did not have a Jewish library of this magnitude, but they will now.”

The library will have centers for all ages, from Mommy and Me (for children up to age 3) to Teen Readers as well as a Parenting Lounge for adults. It will also have a center for aspiring authors, where children can write their own books and articles for the public to read. There will even be a Jewish Music and Video center and a Hands-on Holidays center at the site.

“The children can benefit in many ways from the library, which stretches beyond the books,” Blau said. “All of this brings something to the community that was never there. It will be a place where these kids can express their creativity and feel that their writing matters.”

The Wolowiks plan to create an environment in which children can feel comfortable and are given a chance to embrace their Jewish heritage while learning and growing as human beings — a place where Jewish life will come alive, which will be unique in the Five Towns, Blau explained. “This is something the Five Towns could have used for years now,” she said. “The Five Towns community has really welcomed the idea. It will be a warm and friendly place for kids to hang out, learn, grow and enjoy and express themselves.”

The Wolowiks’ hope is that the library will help future generations enjoy learning as much as Levi did. “The idea, in general, of establishing an institution of this magnitude to carry on Levi’s name is truly meaningful,” Blau said. “They wanted to establish something concrete to carry on his name. The library will surely do so.”

Many community members agree that a library like this is a great idea. “What an incredible idea to honor his special memory!” wrote Beth Bennett on the Chabad Web site. “May you have the strength you need in this tragic time, and may you continue inspiring all of us until Mashiach comes, when you can be reunited with your beautiful son!”

The opening of the library is planned for this spring. “The Chabad is actively planning,” Blau said. “As soon as everything comes together, we’ll have it open. It’s a very current, real plan. We’re actively working on getting everything set up so that we can launch the library this year.”

Also in memory of Levi, a new Sefer Torah will be written, dedicated by all the children of Shluchim (Chabad emissaries) worldwide and any child who wishes to participate. The Torah will be sponsored by the children themselves in one of two ways. They will be able to buy letters in it and, in conjunction with its writing, MyShliach, an organization created to connect the children of Shluchim around the world, will coordinate an international “Learn-a-thon” for children, so that their learning will fund the Sefer Torah. While this project is in development, the first letters were inscribed at the Wolowiks’ home last Sunday.

The Wolowiks hope these projects will help eternalize Levi’s life. “Although our Levi Yitzchak was taken from us at such a young age, he accomplished so much in his life,” the couple said in the Chabad Web site post. “He learned, he played, he loved and he laughed — and he was always happy.”

For more information on the Levi Yitzchak Jewish Children’s Library or the Sefer Torah, go to chabadfivetowns.com.

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+ Levi Wolowik, 9, OBM (Feb 28, 2009)

+ Thousands at Wolowik Funeral (Mar 1, 2009)

+ Crying, Dancing in the 5 Towns (Mar 3, 2009)

+ Wolowik Classmates Seek Help (Mar 4, 2009)

+ A Mother’s Musings (Mar 5, 2009)

+ Wolowik to Unveil Today (Mar 7, 2009)

+ Wolowiks Begin New Torah (Mar 8, 2009)