Levi Wolowik Library, A Year Later

By COLlive reporter

On a recent Sunday, the Levi Yitzchok Library in Long Island’s Five Towns celebrated its one year anniversary with a day long celebration.

The storefront library in Cedarhurst, New York was filled with children and their parents enjoying special activities and entertainment to mark a year since its opening.

The library, founded one year ago by Shluchim Rabbi Zalman and Chanie Wolowik in memory of their 9 year-old son who passed away 3 years ago, is now a bustling center of learning and activity, with children coming from all over the tri-state area to visit.

While marking one year since the library’s opening was a proud and happy accomplishment for Shlucha Chani Wolowik, it was an emotional time as well, as it coincides with what would have been Levi’s 12th birthday.

“It is still very difficult to deal with our loss,” Chani Wolowik told COLlive.com. “But the best gift we can give Levi now is doing mitzvos in his zechus.”

Wolowik said she visits the library often “just to see how the children, parents, grandparents and friends are enjoying spending quality time together.”

The library, with wall to wall Jewish books, a mitzvah express train, a puppet theater, an art/writing station, a computer station, and media center was beautifully created by expert designer Janice Davis.

Lisa Hawk, who directs the library and its programs, says the last year has passed in a whirlwind of activity. “When I reflect back on the year, on the one hand I’m amazed that we have accomplished so much and have come so far,” she says. “Still, our goal is to see what more can we do for the community, how much more we can offer.”

One of the library’s many programs is a partnership with the My Shliach organization, directed by Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, Executive Director of Merkos Suite 302, to create a lending library for Shluchim’s children.

The lending library is run by Mrs. Gili Shanowitz, who mails out books to children living in far off locations without access to Jewish books each week. Over 100 shluchim families are already participating.

“Levi was a proud young Shliach,” says Rabbi Zalman Wolowik, “and the opportunity for Yaldei Hashluchim to have access to so many Jewish books is a Zechus for his Neshama.”

At the anniversary celebration, children enjoyed entertainment by puppet star Rabbi Itche Kadoozy and his creator, Dovid Taub.

Chani Wolowik explained, “Levi loved Itche Kadoozy – he loved the humor in it and the message. It was his favorite thing to watch on the computer.”