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June 18, 2007
Scenes from the Weekend: One
The lecture is over.
Everyone is enjoying the brunch.
In the community room, I'm weak from hunger; haven't had a chance to eat for hours and hours because I've been so keyed up about the lecture, the whole weekend.
Now, I'm sitting at a table and shoveling a cheese blintze into my mouth. A shadow, like a sword, falls over me. I look up, it's my Persian buddy.
He extends his hand.
“I am sorry,” he says, “I could not make it to the lecture but I wanted to come and make a b'racha on Ariel's holy neshama.”
“Thank you, thank you so much.”
My Persian buddy looks absolutely frazzled.
“Is everything okay?”
He frowns.
“I come from the hospital. My son, his lung collapsed. That is why I could not come to Ariel's lecture.”
I jump to my feet.
”Oh my gosh, is your son okay?”
“Baruch HaShem, he is doing fine. I will make a b'racha for Ariel's holy neshama and go back to Cedars-Sinai.”
My Persian buddy turns around, walks off, disappears.
For a long moment I sit and catch my breath.
Finally, I rise, and on a hunch, head into the main sanctuary of the shul. It is cool and the shadows are deep. When I was a child I was told that shaydim, ghosts, haunt empty shuls. I have always been absolutely terrified of vacant sanctuaries. And even now I hesitate to step into my shul.
But it is not deserted.
There stands my Persian buddy, at the ark, shuckling, swaying back and forth, davening, praying, eyes tightly clenched; he says Ariel's name, then kisses the parochet, the curtain that covers the ark that contain the Torah scrolls.
I choke back a sob because I don't want my friend to know that I'm spying on him. This dialogue with HaShem that I have witnessed deserves the dignity of solitude.
b'racha = blessing
neshama = soul
Baruch HaShem = Thank G-d
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at June 18, 2007 01:15 PM
Comments
Seraphic Secret is private property, that's right, it's an extension of our home, and as such, Karen and I have instituted two Seraphic Rules and we ask commentors to act respectfully.
1. No profanity.2. No Israel bashing. We debate, we discuss, we are respectful. You know what Israel bashing is. The world is full of it. Seraphic Secret is one of the few places in the world that will not tolerate this form of anti-Semitism. That's it. Break either of these rules and you will be banned.
What a wonderful & moving story. It's good to hear about Persian Guy again. I hope his son is now fully recovered.
Posted by: Katherine at June 18, 2007 02:37 PM
Katherine:
The entire weekend was a profoundly moving experience. Scene upon scene—which I will write about in the next few days. His son is doing well.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.seraphicpress.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at June 18, 2007 02:51 PM
Your friend is a beautiful person, and a rare one, Robert. His son is seriously ill in hospital, yet he keeps in mind to daven for Ariel, z"l, and honor your family by making a quick appearance at the shul.
I looked at my watch at several times in the day and thought, keeping the time difference in mind, "The lecture is starting now...the lecture must be ending and the questions/discussion beginning...the brunch must be going on.... Hmmm, which Seraphic friends showed up? Darn, I wish I could be there!"
Posted by: Pearl at June 18, 2007 03:07 PM
Pearl:
Really, really missed you. Judith of Kesher was there, Jeremiah of Jeremayakova, Jack of Jack's Shack, Ralphie and Mrs. Ralphie of Kerkhoff's Coffee House, Alan Busch and his kallah Heather, of The Book of Ben, and Mick Brady and his wife of Dancing in Tongues. It was amazing. Not just because of the bloggers, the lecture was extraordinary and the entire atmosphere was just... special.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech at June 18, 2007 03:22 PM
I was sorry not to be able to make it. You will post a transcript, won't you?
Posted by: Kent at June 18, 2007 03:37 PM
Kent:
We're sorry you could not be at the lecture; I'm sure you you would have found it compelling. Dr. Shatz was uncomfortable with having his lecture posted on the web so Karen will try and summarize his thoughts in a future blog.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech at June 18, 2007 04:05 PM
Dear Robert,
Once again, I thank you and Karen on behalf of my son Ben Z'L and kallah Heather for a truly amazing experience with which to inaugurate our first visit to Los Angeles.
A few thoughts: by the time Dr. Shatz began his remarks,there had arrived one rather considerable crowd thankfully. We took our seats at about 9:50 and for the next fifteen minutes or so a few more folks trickled in and, truth be told, I was a bit worried lest a small audience show up, but then the flood gates opened and I felt a tangible sense of relief in my gut. Of course, at the time I forgot how early we had arrived.
The sanctuary is really quite beautiful and reminds me of the Persian Shul back home in Skokie, Illinois ... lots of dark wood and, well I'd guess one might call it ... ambiance befitting a makom kodesh. Truly wondrous!
The reception was splendid and was, in my case, a classic example of the eyes being larger than the stomach.
Lastly, as we inch toward the three weeks and our mood becomes more somber, smiles fewer and the bittersweetness of some of life's moments intermingles with the many black chapters in the national life of Am Yisroel, I suppose all of us need to look to our children, of now and before, to remind us that life really is worth living.
I remain,
Very Sincerely yours,
Alan D. Busch
Posted by: alan at June 18, 2007 08:40 PM
I'm so sorry we missed it.
Baruch Hashem, indeed. I'm glad your friend's son is OK.
Posted by: Albert at June 18, 2007 08:43 PM
Robert,
I'm not unsympathetic to Dr. Shatz' feelings about being posted on the Web. A paraphrazed summary is fine.
Posted by: Kent at June 19, 2007 07:42 AM
Alan:
It was great meeting you and Heather face to face—at last. I was never worried about how many people would show up. Our community loved Ariel dearly, but they do function on Jewish time and tend to show up in a surge in the last few minutes. We had over a hundred guests at the lecture, a good number of bloggers attending. I am sorry Karen and I did not have the opportunity to spend more time with you but we did have to play hosts and spread ourselves pretty thin. Again, thanks so much for coming to LA and we look forward to seeing you again very soon.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech at June 19, 2007 08:17 AM
Kent:
Yes, quite a few people I know are very uncomfortable with having their lectures spread around the blogosphere with no copyright protection. I really don't blame them. I would not want my films distributed like that and be cut out of my royalties.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech at June 19, 2007 08:21 AM
Robert, it was a privilege and an honor to be included in the events on Father's Day. Not only was it a pleasure to meet you and your family and friends, but Liz and I both came away with a clear sense of how special Ariel must have been, and how blessed he was to have been born into a family like yours. Thanks for sharing the joy.
Posted by: Mick at June 19, 2007 11:32 AM
Mick:
The privelege and honor were all ours. I'm sorry that we were not able to spend more time with you and Liz. BTW, check my blogroll, you are a Seraphic Friend.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech at June 19, 2007 01:03 PM
Thanks, Robert. You've been added to mine as well.
Posted by: Mick at June 20, 2007 09:18 AM
From a Ner Yisroel alum who knew Ariel, may his neshama have an aliyah.
Posted by: Jewboy at June 20, 2007 12:41 PM
Jewboy:
Karen and I are always happy to hear from Ariel's ZT'L classmates. His years at Ner Yisroel were precious—to him and to us.
Do stay in touch with us.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech at June 20, 2007 01:15 PM
"Dr. Shatz was uncomfortable with having his lecture posted on the web"
now i want to read/hear it even more
Posted by: ari kinsberg at June 21, 2007 09:13 AM
Ari:
We will be posting a summary.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech at June 21, 2007 09:39 AM