Hundreds on hand to mark 1st Yahrtzeit of Rabbi Levi Bialo OBM
Over four hundred people from all over Toronto packed the main sanctuary of Chabad Lubavitch of Markham for a very meaningful and moving memorial for Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Bialo,of blessed memory, featuring guest speaker, Rabbi Yossi Jacobson from New York.
It was exactly a year ago – 7 Iyar 5766 – when Rabbi Levi Bialo, a young Shliach of the Rebbe, was tragically killed in a head on collision with a GO passenger train on the way to Shul for Shachris. Rabbi Bialo was the Young Adult Coordinator at Chabad Lubavitch of Markham and a fifth grade Rebbe at Cheder Chabad. He was survived, at the time, by his young, pregnant wife Shira and their son Schneur Zalman. Subsequently, Shira gave birth to their daughter Chaya Mushka.
Rabbi Avraham E. Plotkin, director of Chabad Lubavich of Markham opened the evening by setting the tone and appealing to the crowd to make it a positive, meaningful event by focusing on Rabbi Bialo’s joyful life. He pointed out how the Rabbi managed to change the lives of so many of his students in such a short lifespan.
While he was speaking a very strange thing happened. A passing outside train sounded its loud horn and send chills through the entire crowd. It was quite unusual to hear this in the Shul, as the train is down the road and rarely sounds its horn. Many felt like it was a sound from heaven.
He then introduced Rabbi Dovid Schochet , Mara Di’asra of the Toronto Lubavitch community. Rabbi Schochet drew a parallel between Rabbi Akiva whose final recital of the Shma was interrupted by the Romans and the tragic accident of Rabbi Bialo on the way to Shul. He reassured the large family representation gathered from all over North America that Levi’s work would continue like Rabbi Akiva through those that love him and by his many students around the world.
Richard Steyn, President of Chabad Lubavich of Markham spoke of the amazing work that Rabbi Bialo did with the Young Adults in the community and of his inimitable, soft spoken manner with which he succeeded in influencing them positively.
He then called up one of the prominent young adults in the community, Daron Odes who told of his personal relationship with Rabbi Levi. There was not a dry eye in the room when Daron described how he and his friends initially had resisted the rabbi’s overtures and how eventually Rabbi Bialo won them over, earning their respect and admiration. He spoke of how painful Rabbi Bialo’s passing was to him and his friends and of their firm commitment to continue his work.
Dovi Bialo, Levi’s brother appealed to the crowd to participate in a special new Sefer Torah that is being written in honor of Rabbi Bialo followed by Michael Konsker, Shira’s father who thanked everyone on behalf of his daughter and grandchildren for helping them over the past year and for the amazing outpouring of generosity from around the world.
Rabbi Boruch Zaltzman, principal of Cheder Chabad of Toronto spoke about the individual attention Rabbi Bialo gave to every child in his class and also related what transpired at the school on Levi’s passing. He then introduced one of Levi’s students, Sruly Steiner who conducted a Siyum, concluding a tractate in Rabbi Bialos honor.
The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the highly inspirational talk of Rabbi Yossi Jacobson on the controversial topic of “When bad things happen to good people’. Despite the sensitive nature of the topic, Rabbi Jacobson moved the crowd and gave tremendous comfort and encouragement to the shattered family and community.
He kept the crowd simply mesmerized as he weaved a most beautiful tapestry of life, connecting the happy moments and the sad, the ups and the downs, the beautiful and the ugly. Most important, he infused the audience with strong feelings of faith and optimism. He assured them that the great work of Rabbi Bialo and the work of the Shluchim in general will continue until the imminent arrival of Moshiach.
The evening concluded with a surprise announcement by Rabbi Plotkin that it has been decided that the new wing on the existing Chabad Lubavich of Markham building, now under construction, is to be named “The Rabbi Levi Bialo Youth Wing”. The Rabbi explained how this was a fitting memorial for a man who dedicated his life to helping the youth of his community!
(SOURCE: SHMAIS.COM)
Berel
We need Moshiach Now! ad mosai!
Brunoy Bocher
may the entire family only know happiness
and may we merit the finel redemption right now!
ich
amen
lajew
A true chosid an ohev yisorel dedicated to the rebbes mivtzoim.
May he be a meilitz yosher to his entire family, community and all of klal yisorel, and may his family and community from now on only have simchos with the coming of Moshiach Tzidkainu
Lubavitch Doctor
He was inspiration to the Cleveland community as well (he grew up there) and is sorely missed by everyone.
Neshama
I did not know Levi, but after reading the above, I felt the ‘love’ that his community felt for him, and mostly how he echoed The Rebbe’s love for all of Hashem’s creations, especially the youth he endeared to his mission.
I know what they felt when the train’s horn sounded – it is a chilling feeling to receive communication from above.
If possible, please extend my condolences to the family.
admirer
No one should know of such tragedies. One thing not to be forgotten was the smile never missing from Levi, OBM, face. He was a REAL example to everyone. A true, real Lubavitcher! May we be zoche to the coming of moshiach right now!
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We need Moshiach Now! ad mosai! amen
”zchoi yagion aleno”
zey’a
”baroch dayan haemes”
Fellow Student
He was my teacher, I remember the day he passed away, I was in school and the staff were told not to tell us until the day was over, they just told us he got in to a crash, I remember him so well, every morning I passed by him he used to say good morning.
LAMom
I still feel sick in my stomach when I see Levi Bialo’s picture and think of his wife and kids and how they must be suffering. May Moshiach come before his kids realise that he has been gone at all…
Chabad Mommy
May Moshiach come immediately to reunite this loving family. The story brings tears to my eyes.
guyt
very sorry