Wolowik: A Mother’s Musings

By Phyllis Lubin, 5 Towns Jewish News

No understanding. No explanation. I sit here trying to sort out my feelings, but that is barely possible. A young innocent boy, Levi Yitzchok Wolowik, has been taken from this world too soon. The shock of finding out the terrible news at the Chabad House this past Shabbos morning was indescribable.

I’m trying to remind myself that there must be some higher reason that G-d only knows, but it is no consolation to me at this moment.

Levi Yitzchok had a sweet, cherubic face. A pure innocent that was always helpful to his parents, to his siblings, and to his shul. Rabbi and Rebbetzin Wolowik are G-d’s emissaries on earth to guide and care for the Five Towns community, and their children have always joined them in their mission. When the question came up of whether Yussie needed a shadow at groups on Shabbos morning, Rebbetzin Wolowik said not to fear—she had put Levi Yitzchok in charge of looking out for Yussie’s well-being and making sure that he wouldn’t wander off when groups ended. I always felt confident that Levi Yitzchok had his eyes out for Yussie.

On Sunday afternoon, the activities of the Chabad of the Five Towns continued. Yussie and Lea attended the Friendship Circle’s special monthly Sunday program and rejoiced in the imminent arrival of Purim by making hamentashen and funny Purim hats. While the children still played indoors, a procession of hundreds of people gathered to briefly follow the casket and the mourning family past the Chabad Center where Levi Yitzchok had spent a majority of this life. He will no longer bless the congregation with his smiling face, but his spirit will surely live on.

The rabbi and rebbetzin insisted that everyone who had reservations for the Chabad annual dinner should go. How could we go with this terrible pain in our hearts? How could we dance when Levi Yitzchok cannot? But the rabbi and rebbetzin wanted unity at the dinner to honor Levi Yitzchok’s memory. And so we and hundreds more came out to pay homage to the wonderful work of Chabad of the Five Towns and the Wolowik family. Both Rabbi Kotlarsky (Rebbetzin Wolowik’s father) and Rabbi Teldon gave us all words of chizuk.

I can only take a bit of consolation from the idea that Levi Yitzchok is now watching out for all of us from above. His time on earth was cut short and those behind are left bereft, but he is with Hashem and will never know the pain of the toil of this world. May Hashem give the rabbi and rebbetzin and the entire Wolowik family the strength to continue the lifesaving work that they have always done for our community. And may Levi Yitzchok’s soul watch over all the children and keep them safe.

Phyllis Joy Lubin is an attorney with Rosenfeld & Maidenbaum, LLP, who resides in Cedarhurst with her husband Leonard and six children: Naftali, Shoshana, Rivka, Rochel, Yosef, and Lea. She welcomes your questions and comments at [email protected].