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J. Levine Books & Judaica

J. Levine Books & Judaica 1 Bookstores Judaica Religious Items Midtown South Tenderloin

While not the most hidden of gems, J. Levine has just about everything Manhattan Sideways looks for in a featured place. The owners opened the store in Lithuania in 1890 before moving to New York in 1905. Now overseen by the fifth generation of Levines, the store continues to thrive. “And that’s something,” owner Daniel Levine gushed, “because the first brothers in the Torah were Cane and Abel. And they killed each other. Family doesn’t tend to stick together like this.”

The atmosphere inside the store is about as far from Cain and Abel as we can imagine. Just about everything Judaica is sold at J. Levine: books, games, music, tallit, mezuzahs, yarmulkes, kiddush cups and menorahs. The emphasis is on acceptance and making customers feel welcome: “We try to be open to all types of people, and to all types of Jews,” said Daniel Levine. A variety of books are carried to help “anyone who wants to reach God through Judaism.” Charlotte from Sex in the City bought her ketubah (Hebrew marriage license) here, and since then “it has been the hottest place for ketubahs,” according to Mr. Levine. L’Dor Vador – from generation to generation – owners and shoppers alike have united to keep this institution alive.

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J. Levine Books & Judaica 1 Bookstores Judaica Religious Items Midtown South Tenderloin
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J. Levine Books & Judaica 3 Bookstores Judaica Religious Items Midtown South Tenderloin
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J. Levine Books & Judaica 12 Bookstores Judaica Religious Items Midtown South Tenderloin

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The Mason Jar

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