A life with no end: Honoring Rabbi Levi Wolosow

Just 30 days ago, while on a family ski trip, my brother-in-law, Rabbi Levi Wolosow, ascended the mountain, sent his wife the required selfie from atop the ski lift, told his son to go ahead, and began making his way down.

As he passed the halfway point, with his skis still on, he fell forward and returned his soul to his Maker. Without warning, time to say goodbye, or even the opportunity to pray for a better outcome, at the young age of 43, he was gone.

In his short lifetime, he accomplished so much. He completed the Talmud at the age of 40, recorded over 500 classes online, and developed Project Rosh—one of New Jersey’s most innovative Rosh Hashanah services, which drew nearly 1,000 participants. In addition to his biological children, he and his wife lovingly raised two adolescents whose parents had both passed on.

Yet, Levi carried himself with humility, was a lifelong learner, and lived by his values. When speaking with most people, one senses that they place themselves at the center of their own universe. With Levi, it was different. When you spoke with him, you felt that he placed you at the center of the universe. He was genuinely interested in your well-being, celebrated your accomplishments, and was always open to hearing new ideas or insights.

Perhaps it was his humility, his soft-spoken nature, or the fact that he primarily built one-on-one personal relationships, but what happened after his passing came as a complete surprise—even to his immediate family.

Thousands of people visited his home during the week of Shiva. Over 11,000 individuals contributed to a campaign in support of his family. Tributes poured in from across the spectrum of the Jewish world—clergy members of the Conservative movement, teachers and educators from Lakewood’s Torah community, the leadership of the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute, and Chabad colleagues from around the world.

Rabbi Chaim Wolosow of Chabad of Sharon and TorahRerodings.com begins a Torah which is being written in memory of his son Rabbi Levi Wolosow OBM.

In the weeks following the shiva, the projects began: a Torah being written in Israel, study programs in France, a website to curate his classes and the renaming of the adult education center he built with his heart and soul—just to name a few.

As is tradition, in Levi’s memory, I studied a tractate of Mishnah. The one I chose was Avodah Zarah, which deals with the mitzvot of distancing ourselves from foreign worship and influences. Many tractates conclude with an uplifting message and a sense of closure.

This one was different. It ends very matter-of-factly with the laws of kashering a knife: “He must polish it, and it is rendered pure.”

The abrupt closing of the tractate felt very much like Levi’s loss. There is no closure, just a call to action. There is no end—only a push forward into the next chapter.

For some, a lifetime has a beginning, middle, and end. But for a lifelong learner, for one who is always growing, a lifetime is just the beginning.

Levi’s impact has only begun. His children, his students, and the thousands he touched are already multiplying it.

Learn more at RabbiLevi.com 

Hundreds of people gather in tribute to Rabbi Levi Wolosow OBM in the hall he held the innovative Project Rosh, a Rosh Hashanah service which would attract nearly 1,000 participants. (Courtesy of the Wolosow Family)