Levi would always give

By: Sholom Loebenstein

As a brother (In-Law) to Levi, I am speechless, I have no words to say. In addition to the question why does the Hashem take away the best of the best people in the world, there are simply no words to describe the pain and anguish my family and I have that Levi has left us. We are left with no answers as to why this had to happen to Miriam, Chaya, Mendel, Mirel, Zalman and all Levi’s family and friends together with the whole Klal Yisroel. May Hashem bless them with much strength courage and happiness throughout their lives, they should only hear good thing from now on till the coming days of Moshiach speedily in our days.

All of those who were lucky to know, meet, or hear of Levi would know that Levi symbolized many things: always loving one another, being kind to every individual, helping everyone no matter who they are, always smiling, laughing, and doing Mivtzoim, always with a passion and with love for a fellow Jew. You were always able to see how he loved life by his acts of kindness. Levi would always give, give and give with a smile on his face.

I got to know Levi quite well especially over the last three to four years, whether it was by our long serious and funny conversations over the phone or from my personal visits to Tyson’s Corner over the last three years.

Levi was a warm, charming, funny guy to know and to be with, and over the last three years while Levi was ill, so many people, not only America but the whole world would fly in to spend some time with Levi and it wasn’t only his friends but also respected rabbis philanthropists, family so on and so forth. They all knew that Levi was such an important person to everyone.

As a fifteen year old Bochor, I always sought advice and help whether it had to do with school, friends, learning, general behavior and most importantly more personal matters. Let me tell you Levi knew it all. I always knew I could speak to Levi when I needed to. I knew I could trust him with all my personal matters. Levi was so-to-say my “Mashpia” who I always listened to and loved very much.

Just two and a half months ago, while I was there for Tishrei, I spent a lot of time with Levi walking to Shul, at home, in the spa and so on so forth. One thing that sticks out of my mind is that one Shabbos Levi and I went on a long walk to Shul and Levi was not felling very well at this time but nevertheless he was asking me as usual all about school, my teachers, what I was learning in and out of school, and with whom I have Shiuirim with, what I’m doing next year, what I like and what I don’t like, what I waste my time on and what I don’t waste my time on etc. Even though it was a very serious talk never the less Levi still made me laugh constantly like he always did. As always Levi will finish off by saying in his loud deep voice “Sholom Menachem Mendel! Now that you told me everything, now tell me how you’re going to improve all of that!”

I always thought I knew Levi until I read all the stories, poems, speeches, about Levi and his life on the blog. As well as you think you know Levi, there is always something you don’t know about him and when you find what it is you just get even more and more inspired by him.

From sitting and reading all these wonderful and special stories about Levi on the blog no matter if it was his long time old friend or Shluchim around the world, or respected elder rabbis, or men, women, and children in Levis Chabad house who wrote. It brings tears to my eyes to know what a great and special bother-in- law I have and love so dearly and so much.

This is a big loss for the whole Jewish community. Levi will be missed very much by everyone. But we pray that soon we will be dancing on the streets with Levi and all our loved ones and the whole Klal yisroel with Moshiach on the way to Eretz Yisroel, may it be speedily in our days.

May we all take and use Levi’s lessons to our everyday life and use them will just like Levi wants us to.

There is so much more I could say. I could be here for days writing about Levi and his Shlichus, funny, serious, cool, and loving stories.

Levi I miss you and love you so much and will always take your lessons into my hand and whenever I need to make a big decision I will think of you and think to myself “what would Levi have told me to do?”


WE WANT MOSHIACH NOW !!!