J Levine Books and Judaica

I visited J Levine Books and Judaica for the first time today. There is a considerable book collection at the back with a wide assortment of goods for every occasion. I was delighted at how helpful and considerate everyone was in helping me find an appropriate gift for my best friend going off to yeshiva. In particular, Shawn was especially kind and patient in going through ideas with me, educating me on significance and tradition along the way. What truly blew me away was a random act of kindness that I saw him do for another customer. It warms my heart to see that there are still good people with good hearts doing good business out there.

When there is a problem they make it right

Many generations in the same family and ownership. .. and it shows! The store has a wonderful and broad selection of every kind of beautiful and useful Judaica imaginable, and at many price points. Moreover, the owner, Danny Levine, is highly knowledgeable, very helpful, and an absolute pleasure to work with. Indeed, when someone in my family forgot this year to bring the Passover Seder Haggadahs, I called Danny in a panic, and he amazingly went from his home, back to the store — just hours before the start of Shabbos and Yuntif — and reopened the store just for us to save our Seder! Go, Danny! So, for all of these many reasons, a big five-​star review and a hearty Yasher Koach to Danny and J. Levine Judaica! :)

Their store is a bit messy when you walk in but that shouldn’t deter you. These are the nicest and most helpful people you will find in a Judica store in NYC. Great selection of stuff and good prices. I would highly suggest going there!

I was in search of a new Tallis for my upcoming wedding and thought I would visit NYC since I am now on the east coast. I was expecting to have to travel to Brooklyn, but thankfully, Unilocal guided me here and I was able to avoid the trek to BK (especially in the rain).
There was a very nice older lady at the front of the store whom we chatted with for a few minutes, very sweet. Then we went with another woman to help us find the right size and style Tallis that I was looking for. The selection was adequate and although a little disorganized, I wouldn’t call it a mess as some others have.
This place is not cheap, so if you’re looking for a bargain, look elsewhere (online, Brooklyn). It is reasonably priced though so you can trust that you won’t be ripped off either. The kippah selection was not nearly as good, so you may want to look elsewhere if you’re looking for a special kippah. I didn’t really look at the other items, but I did notice a beautiful selection of classic and unique seder plates and hanukkiahs.
Next time I’m in Manhattan and need some Judaica, I will be back.

This store is a mess and I love it! They have a huge selection of Jewish items, very varied and beautiful, kids books and toys, and an amazing selection of books. The people working there, the owners I guess were so welcoming and nice, and the lady behind the counter may as well be the sweetest lady in NYC retail. She was so kind and helpful that you kinda want to sit down for tea with her and chat. The store is old fashioned and I think it’s charming.

They are the best!!! We do not live in NYC anymore but we shop when we visit, by phone, and by web site. Danny gives the absolutely best and personal service, as did the three generations of Levine before him, and surely as he will be followed by Generation Five. When we traveled north to purchase my Tallit Gadol for the 50^th anniversary of my first Bar Mitzvah, our flight was late and Danny was getting ready to close because of a yuntof on the way. No Problem. He put his keys down and stayed with us until we had the most perfect tallit gadol and bag and reviewed over and over again how to wear it and fold it, compared to the smaller tallisim I had been using. More recently on a trip to NYC, we wanted a mogen david for my neck chain. What was on display was just not right, so Danny went through boxes and drawers until we came up with the perfect one I wear all the time now. In a word, the Levine family cares. They will work with you to find just what you need, and will arrange easy shipping if you are visiting NYC and do not want to shlep stuff back with you, or if you just want to order over the phone or web. The business IS a blessing.

I have been coming here for 10 years. I agree with Noah K. that the place is dingy and cramped. The lighting is not optimal in some parts of the store. I go there most often for books. A good retailer would cut back on the number of books, and be more selective about what they display. The place is in dire need of renovation.
I have found that when I needed to order a book or other item that I have to keep after them as they can be a little slow or even drop the ball. I have not seen much turnover in the staff, and they remember several things that I have bought over the years.
I suspect the source of many of the problems with the store lies with management. A better retail manager would see dozens of things to correct.

We bought our ketubah here. They certainly have the best selection I have ever seen. However, a few concerns:
— The store is indeed dingy and dirty, and feels very old and stuffed with crap. Not good presentation at all.
— Seemingly, aside from the owner of the store, nobody seems to have any real knowledge of anything.
— The customer service overall was very sup-​par. Not one thing happened in the supposed timeframes, and everything took multiple follow-​ups.
— We ordered a ketubah, and when it arrived (3 months after ordering, mind you), it had a sort of «burnt» quality that was not on the sample that we picked. The store professed ignorance, and I believe them. They made it right (see below), but the fact that they are selling things that do not exist is offputting.
As noted above, we did not get what we ordered, but the owner (Danny) was accommodating, and worked with us to make this right. All in all, it is a store with a great selection, and a place that I would begrudgingly go back to. I would not rush to buy from them again, but the selection makes it worth it.

I’ve never been into the store, so this is just a review for ordering from them online.
I ordered some new haggadahs (from their massive online selection) — there were no problems at all, they were extremely communicative by email, and the haggadahs showed up right away.
Folks, for things Jewish, stop ordering from Amazon! This is the place to go.

After searching for Judaica shops, only to find the closed, we found Levine Co. Loved everything about it and especially the lovely lady at the counter.
Very high quality gifts and books. Everything we were looking for. Nothing over the top. Perfect.
Can’t wait to visit again!

I came in with my fiancé to buy a tallis last weekend, and they couldn’t have made it a better experience. Everyone there was really helpful and nice, and the selection is fantastic. Totally comfortable for the less-​orthodox among us, too! I will definitely be going back.

The reviews do not lie my friends. This is the best Judaica in the city! I was in a tight situation the day before Chanuka began with no candles. Even though Sabbath was only an hour from beginning, the owner agreed to stay open so I could purchase candles and celebrate properly with my family! The family run company recently celebrated it’s 120^th anniversary and even if Unilocal was around that long, I’m confident the 5 star rating would have passed the test of time. Thanks for your incredible, thoughtful and professional service. Bravo!

Levine Judaica is by far the best Judaica store in New York City (at least, of the Judaica stores that I have been to… and that’s a great number of stores).
My love affair with Levine Judaica started when I first met the lovely woman who works at the front counter. As I walked in to the store for the first time, slightly apprehensive (as I always am when exploring a new store), she welcomed me, and then simply smiled as I looked through the rows of books, the cases of menorahs, the Uncle Moishey CD collection…
And then, when I finally decided upon what Judaica kitsch I needed to adorn my new apartment and placed the items on the counter to check out, she engaged me in a wonderful conversation about my new purchases and my home synagogue.
In short, she was wonderful. Everything you could ever want in a sales clerk. No snobbery. No pretense. No judgment (which couldn’t have been easy considering some of the stuff I was buying…). Just help and kindness. In New York, nonetheless. Who knew?
In fact, I kind of wish she was my Bubbe…
Truth be told, even if this friendly woman was not at the front of the store, Levine Judaica would still be a top act to follow. Affordable prices and a fantastic selection paired with a comprehensive website should your ideal challah dish not be in stock make this store a gem in Midtown Manhattan.
Levine Judaica… you rock.
Nice Bubbe-​like lady at the front counter… you rock as well.

As a shiksa shopping for a hamsa for a Jewish friend, I wasn’t looking forward to the standard chill from Orthodox shopkeepers. A nice Unilocal review convinced me to make J Levine my second stop. I found something lovely and well-​priced immediately, the woman behind the counter couldn’t have been kinder or more friendly, and when I showed her the good reviews she was so surprised and thrilled that I decided to add my own.

The staff is stellar! Any level of Jew (or non-​Jew) is made to feel welcome! The store is a little crowded but only because they have every book in the world. The woman at the counter was especially great.

the folks here are very sweet and very helpful. i needed dish towels for Rosh Hashanah. I’m not Jewish and can’t read Hebrew. The couple who run the store were able to point me in the right direction with a laugh and a smile.

In New York, Judaica stores are a dime a dozen. But this store is worth more than a dime. With a great selection of everything Jewish, from ritual books and objects to history books to jewelery and children’s gifts, if your looking to for jewish related gift, this is the store to go to.