Leviev Dedicates Sprawling School Campus in Five Towns

Philanthropist Lev Leviev and his wife, Olga, led the dedication of the massive new Lev Academy campus in Five Towns, New York, on Thursday. The school is part of the Ohr Avner network in the United States.

Stretching along an entire street, the expansive facility will serve as a permanent home for hundreds of students.

Leviev was joined by Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, the Republican candidate for governor of New York in the upcoming election. The event brought together Ohr Avner leadership, the Rebbe’s Shluchim, educators, philanthropists and public officials.

Leviev, Blakeman and other distinguished guests addressed the gathering, marking the occasion as an important milestone for Jewish education in New York and the beginning of a new chapter for Lev Academy.

Rabbi Shmaya Krinsky, son of Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky and a member of the board of Machne Israel, also spoke, as did Rabbi Zalman Wolowik, the Rebbe’s Shliach to Five Towns, among many others.

Blakeman also put on Tefillin with Rabbi Wolowik. Following the official dedication, which included the placing of a Mezuzah and a ribbon-cutting ceremony, Leviev, Blakeman and other guests toured the new campus.

Ohr Avner leadership in attendance included Rabbi Zalman Zvolunov, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Wolowik and Rabbi Shmuel Kogan. Also present were Rabbi Yehuda Blau, director of Ohr Avner in Israel; Rabbi Asher Vaknin, Shliach to Queens; and Rabbi Mendy Zvolunov.

Shluchim from the surrounding area included Rabbi Anshel Perl, Rabbi Nachum Tenenbaum, Rabbi Meir Gaisinsky and Rabbi Mendel Gordon.

Representatives of longstanding Crown Heights institutions also attended, including Rabbi Yossi Langzam of Lubavitcher Yeshiva; Rabbi Shalom Goldstein and Rabbi Mendy Gansburg of Beis Rivkah; and Rabbi Beri Spetitzky of Keren Menachem.

Philanthropists and supporters in attendance included R’ Pinny Altahouse, R’ Dudi Farkash and R’ Shalom Feldman.

The new campus marks a major milestone for Lev Academy and the Ohr Avner network, providing hundreds of students in the Five Towns community with a permanent educational home.