By COLlive reporter
A Shloshim Memorial Service honoring the life of Lois May Jaffin Levine, the mother of Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, was held at Chabad Chayil in Miami-Dade North, Florida.
The program began with a heartfelt performance by children from Chabad’s CHAP program, an after-school initiative for public school students. The children sang a song about the neshama, setting a reflective tone for the evening.
A Mishna, corresponding to the name Leah Malka, was learned in her memory. Rabbi Moishe Kievman of Chabad Chayil paid tribute to a woman whose legacy continues to inspire her family and community.
The memorial also included a recitation of Kel Maleh Rachamim by Rabbi Zalman Gansburg of Chabad of Palmetto Bay.
Mayor Levine Cava read two poignant poems her mother wrote shortly before her passing, offering a glimpse into her mother’s wisdom. The attendees then joined together in singing a chapter of Tehillim, Kaddish was then recited and additional verses of condolences were said.
The mayor was presented with a plaque representing a dedicated square foot in the new Chabad Chayil center currently under construction in Highland Lakes.
The event, which drew community members and local leaders, exemplified the values of faith, family, and community that Lois Levine instilled in her loved ones.
Mayor Levine Cava, the first Jewish and first female mayor of Miami-Dade County, has been a trailblazer in public service. Overseeing a government with more than 28,000 employees and serving nearly 3 million residents, she manages an annual budget of $13 billion. Originally from Brooklyn, she was first elected as a Miami-Dade County Commissioner in 2014 and became mayor in 2020, securing re-election in 2024.
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What a beautiful and uplifting event. I am eternally grateful for your prayers and kindness.