A few days later, Rabbi Elias attempted to reach Rabbi Wolosow unsuccessfully. Then he heard the terrible news

Living Higher

After authoring Ani Maamin: A Mission for Life, Understanding Rambam’s 13 Ikkarim and Bringing Them Into Our Lives (ArtScroll 2022), Rabbi Yechezkel Elias of Montreal, Canada received feedback from Yidden across the hashkafic spectrum. Just a few weeks ago, he received an email from Rabbi Levi Wolosow, a Chabad shaliach, who wrote that he ran a Lunch and Learn program where they learned his book. He shared how much they were gaining from it and asked Rabbi Elias if he would consider speaking for the participants.

A few days later, Rabbi Elias attempted to reach Rabbi Wolosow unsuccessfully. Then he heard the terrible news. The encouraging email Rabbi Wosolow sent was one of his last. The Chabad shaliach had passed away at the young age of 43, leaving behind a grieving community and family, including his wife and eight beautiful children.

The night before Rabbi Wolosow’s untimely petirah, he had joined Avraham Fried on stage in a powerful rendition of “Tzamah Nafshi,” singing the poignant lyrics “Masai avo v’eiraeh Pnei Elokim — when will I come and see Hashem’s Face?”

A few hours later, he passed away.

In the wake of his passing, so many stories came to light describing how Reb Levi would always be there for others, whether to visit the sick, kasher a kitchen, put up a mezuzah, or provide whatever another fellow Jew might need.

The email he wrote, shortly before his passing, is a further testament to the life Reb Levi lived — one dedicated to studying and sharing Torah with as many neshamos as he possibly could.

Yehi zichro baruch.

Happening In… Dubai

On a trip to Dubai together with their rosh yeshivah Rabbi Avi Wiesenfeld, the students of Yeshivas Beis Dovid in Yerushalayim were exposed to the very apex of material luxury as they stood in the shadows of the iconic Burj Khalifa. But, Rabbi Wiesenfeld noted, ironically, it was in itself an inspiration. “The boys noted how while everything was so magnificent, it all seems so empty,” he says.

The Gemara tells us that talmidei chachamim are called builders — “v’chol banayich limudei Hashem.” When the group came back to yeshivah, they were reinvigorated and energized, ready to build towers that would far surpass even the most impressive skyscraper.

Overheard

“Each bochur should be mekabel to say good morning to ten people every morning. Start with your roommate.”

—Rav Simcha Bunim Cohen, speaking at the annual event held by Zichron Mattel, an organization founded by famed Lakewood shadchanim, Rabbis Shlomo Lewenstein, Tzadok Katz, and Meir Levi, which seeks to raise funds on behalf of chassanim in need of financial assistance. Rav Cohen was underscoring the importance of increasing one’s bein adam lechaveiro, adding that this effort would serve as a zechus in the search for a zivug.

(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 1049)