This Wednesday, Zayin Iyar, marks 8 years since Rabbi Levi Bialo, ob”m, Shliach to Markham, Ontario passed away.
If feels like just a few years ago that Rabbi Levi Bialo was directing Chabad of Markham’s Young Adults programs. Inspiring and igniting the soul of every Jew with his passion for the Rebbe’s teachings, Levi also used his amazing sense of humor to make every Jewish person he came in contact with proud to be Jewish.
Levi was also a teacher at the Chabad Cheder of Toronto. One of his former students related an interaction with Levi that he will always remember. One time, when he was walking down the hall obviously sad, Levi noticed. Levi didn’t just stop to ask him what’s wrong, but lowered himself down to the student’s height, put his hand around his shoulder, and gently asked how he could help.
After Zayin Iyar, 5776, people from around the world called and emailed beautiful stories about Levi. It was incredible that in his short 25 years, he had affected so many people, many of whom are still keeping hachlatos in his honor. Levi still has many admirers and friends who talk about him often and tell stories about all his funny remarks and inspiring words.
During shiva, Rabbi Schochet of Toronto mentioned that it was no coincidence that Levi passed away on the sefira of Chesed Shebinetzach, love through endurace. Levi was the epitome of kindness. Levi cared and loved those around him and was always there to listen, help and guide.
One thing Levi loved to do most was mivtzoim. He would give over sichos of the Rebbe and put tefillin on Yidden as often as possible. As someone on his mivtzoim route aptly put it, “Levi was larger than life. His passion for teaching others through his love of Judaism was evident in his drive to make a difference in the lives of those that he met. He was not only a mentor but a friend and someone that I share a special brotherhood with thanks to his passion of life.” Levi continues to be a huge source of inspiration in the lives of all those who had the merit of knowing him.
Rabbi Dov Bialo, Levi’s brother and Shliach of the Rebbe at Reed College in Portland, Oregon, wants to do something special in Levi’s honor. He will be holding a first annual Tefillin-a-Thon. Rabbi Dov will wrap tefillin on as many men as possible on the day of the yahrtzeit. The Tefillin-a-Thon will certainly be the motivating “excuse” for students to put on tefillin, many of them for their very first time.
For your part, there is no mitzvah greater than tzedakah. Please join him and CLICK HERE to help raise funds for the Beis Levi Yitzchok Portland Chabad Student Center. Choose an amount for each person he puts tefillin on, and make Levi proud!
This year, with your help, let’s give Levi a gift that will cause his neshama to dance in Gan Eden. Tefillin AND tzedakah! Thank you and may we all merit the coming of Mashiach now!!
Shimeon Weiner says
Levi was – and is an amazing Neshama – His parents – in the immediate aftermath of a horrific tragedy carried themselves with incredible Emunah and Bitachon – to this day – I am amazed by the ‘Shtark keit’ of Reb Shlomo Bialo! May Levi be a maletz yosher for his family and all of Klal Yisroel –
Susan Efroymson says
I iused to babysit for them. These kids had tremendous Simcha shel Mitzva with a real bren. The stories about Levi, his simcha, and his compassion surprise me not at all knowing who his parents are. It was a blessing to have known Levi and his family. Despite their tragedy, I can echo that Gitty also maintained her Simcha’s Hachaim in a way inspirational to anyone who knew her. May Levi’s memory blessed.