By Paul Shapiro
Levi Yitzchak Wolowik, who studied at Yeshiva Darchei Torah in Far Rockaway, read the Torah and said blessings that night, as he often did on Friday nights at Shabbat meals. The following morning, he didn’t reply when a family member came to wake him.
Levi was the son of the co-directors of Chabad of the Five Towns, Rabbi Zalman and Rebbetzin Chanie Wolowik. “We are all shocked and saddened by the sudden passing of our wonderful student, Levi Yitzchak Wolowik,” said Rabbi Yaakov Bender, Rosh HaYeshiva of Yeshiva Darchei Torah. “To quote his teacher from last year on the report card, ‘Levi Yitzchak's mind is a window whose bright light shines in and illuminates the entire class. His enthusiasm and work ethic are setting the standard for all to aspire to. Keep up the good work!’ What more can I say? We have lost a very special young man. Most of all, his parents have lost an extraordinary son.”
Thousands gathered last Sunday afternoon at Shomrei Hadas Funeral Home in Brooklyn for Levi’s funeral. He was buried at the Old Montefiore cemetery in Cambria Heights. That night, the Wolowiks, who were set to host their annual dinner celebration titled “Unity in the Community,” honoring donors and supporters of Chabad, posted a message on its Web site that read, “As difficult as this is, the Rabbi and Rebbetzin urge the entire community to participate in Chabad’s Annual Dinner Sunday evening.”
The Wolowiks had the following message placed at each table setting at the dinner. “On so many occasions, we were taught by our beloved Rebbe, ZY"A, that the only way to confront tragedy, to overcome and persevere, is to persist with even more energy and more joy. There could be no greater way to honor Levi a"h. He is no doubt looking on and having Nachas from this gathering tonight. May we speedily merit the time when ‘G-d will wipe tears from every eye;’ when we will see Hashem’s goodness only in open and revealed ways.”
Health Department calls death influenza-related
The Nassau County Department of Health said Monday that the initial finding, that Levi’s death was related to influenza A, was made by the medical examiner. This season, the deaths of 17 children around the nation have been related to the flu, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “All we know is that it is a presumptive case, but it has to be confirmed,” said Cynthia Brown, spokeswoman for the county health department.
Conclusive lab results were expected later this week. If confirmed, this would be the second death of a child in Nassau County attributed to the flu this season. A 10-year-old girl from Levittown died in early February.
“The flu season goes into May, so there is no way to compare, at this point, how verdant this flu season is compared to other flu seasons,” Brown said. “With two cases out of a population of 1.3 million in Nassau County, it is unusual and it’s terribly sad.”
Janet Cohen, a nurse in the Levittown School District, which dealt with the tragedy last month, encouraged everyone to get the flu vaccine. “Monitor your children very closely for any fever or any other signs of the flu ...,” Cohen said. “At the first sign, get to the doctor, especially if you didn’t receive the vaccine.
“It’s still not too late to receive a vaccine,” she added. “I cannot overemphasize the importance of getting the flu vaccination.”
County health department officials make a similar recommendation, reminding the public that you can’t get the flu from the flu shot. “It’s not too late to get your flu shot,” Brown said. “That is what we are recommending if you have not been immunized. Our message is get your shot if you haven’t done so and if you do become sick, call your doctor.”
Symptoms of the flu include fever, headache, muscle aches, weakness, runny nose, sore throat and a cough that is often severe and prolonged. Occasionally there is nausea, vomiting and diarrhea in children. Most people recover from the disease in two to seven days. The CDC conducts weekly influenza surveillance during flu season, from October through mid-May.
In its weekly summary last week, the New York State Department of Health said that it is reporting widespread influenza activity across the state.
The flu vaccine has sometimes been scarce in years past, but this year it is readily available, according to health officials. The county health department planned to continue offering the vaccine for unimmunized children and adults after the department received an emergency supply. “We are going to get in additional vaccines from the state, and it is available to physicians if their own supplies have run out,” Brown explained. “Physicians can contact the heath department, and we will help them renew their supply of the vaccine.”
Brown added that she hopes the increased awareness of the flu and the availability of the vaccine will help prevent any further tragedies. “It’s just so sad,” she said. “It’s almost more than one can bear. It’s a really difficult situation for the family.”
Shiva is being observed through Friday at the Wolowiks’ home, at 748 Central Ave. in Woodmere. Shacharit will be held through Friday at 8 a.m. while Mincha and Maariv will be held through Friday at 5:40 p.m.
For more information about the flu, call the Nassau County Department of Health’s Disease Control Division at (516) 227-9700.
Comments about this story? PShapiro@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 201.
