May the lecture be a great success, and fitting memorial to Ariel, zichrono levracha.

Why is the hat so large? Was the boy supposed to grow into it? Or perhaps that was/is the preferred style.

The hat fits fine. It's just a wide brim, which is indeed the preferred style.

I wish I could go, it sounds like a marvelous lecture and a fitting tribute to a handsome, special young man.

Dear Robert & Karen,

What a beautiful picture of your son. What a handsome young man he was. I wish for your program to be as meaningful and smooth as possible.

Most sincerely,
Rachel

If all goes to plan, I should be able to join you for this. I hope so much that I can! (I move to California tomorrow...)

Kishke:

Thanks so much. Wish you and Mrs. Kishke could join us.

Sarah:

As Kishke says, the hat's fine, and that's the Borsalino look the Yeshiva boy's prefer. Thanks so much for asking.

Dr. Carol:

We too wish you could join us. Maybe another year.

Rachel:

Thanks so much for the kind words about our son. He was handsome inside too, gentle, kind and generous.

Jackie:

Our blogmother!

What a wonderful surprise. We thought you weren't trekking west for a few months.

Your attendance at the lecture would be so meaningful. Please keep us informed.

"May Ariel's neshama have an aliyah."

amen

That would be nice. Maybe one day.

Lion:

Amen.

Kishke:

IY'H.

What a great topic! There is a wide misconception, (among many religious Jews even, and of course the secularists), that Yeshiva leaders always shun the outside world. That really wasn't the case for the most part and it's more of a 20th century thing. The great Rabbis of the 12th thru the 19th century were often great philosophers and scientists too. Many Rabbis today have the same attributes, but I don't think we expect it as much as we should.

" ... The Fifth Annual Ariel Avrech ZT'L Yahrtzeit Lecture will take place on Sunday June 15, 2008 ... "

won't be able to make it :-((

(although, these days, it could probably be filmed live on a laptop videocam and put into a videochat uplink, or something like that ...)

anyway,

the date, June 15th
happens to be the 12th of Sivan on the Hebrew calendar

here is a quote from
Today in Jewish History for the 12th of Sivan

" When the Holy Temple stood in Jerusalem, and all Jews would come there for the three annual "pilgrimage festivals" (Passover, Shavuot and Sukkot), Sivan 12 was the last of the seven days allotted for the offerings brought in conjunction with the Shavuot pilgrimage (unlike the 7-day festivals of Passover and Sukkot, Shavuot consist only of one day; hence the additional six days of tashlumin or "fulfillment").

Thus we do not recite the tachnun (confession of sins), and the other prayers omitted on a festival or joyous commemoration, from the 1st of Sivan until and including the 12th, as all these days bear a connection with the festival of Shavuot "

http://www.chabad.org/calendar/view/day.asp?tDate=6/15/2008

it seems fitting that a Torah event for a Ben Torah like Ariel, be on a day that completes the Days of Joy connected with the Giving of the Torah

Robert, any possibility of recording the lecture and letting us download it?

Would love to be there but that weekend I will be with my sister and the twins. It's impossible for us to find a reliable babysitter where we can relax and not worry.

Jake:

This is a topic we had a feeling everyone would enjoy.

Exdemexlib:

Thanks so much for the pertinent information and link. Wish you could join us.

Kishke:

We are looking into the possibility of making a video of the speech so we can post it on Seraphic Secret.

Tamster:

Oh, too bad. We were hoping you and Buttercup could make it so we could finally meet the awesome movie maven sister in the flesh. But we understand. Kids come first. Another time.

Robert,
Finally got to see A Stranger Among Us last night. I thought it was well done and I really enjoyed it. Now I know why the Rabbi's son's name is Ariel!
The topic of the lecture sounds very interesting. May it be an aliyah for the neshama of Ariel.
Mata

I think that there is a very strong resemblance between Ariel and his father.

He's gorgeous. Great picture. I wish he was here.

Mata Hari:

Ariel and my girlses are in the film. They are in the Shabbos scene. They are the kids who are watching the Hasidim dancing and clapping their hands. Rewind!

Jack:

I always thought that Ariel ZT'L looked more like Karen. Anyway, thanks so much for the compliment.

Alice:

Me too.

This is so extremely cool. Love being a Seraphic friend and getting all the insider information. I saw a Hitchcock movie (Strangers on a train) and turns out his daughter was in the film.
I will definitely rewind and watch the Shabbos scene. Were any of the kids the sitting on the laps at the meal?

I see some of each parent in the son.

Mata Hari:

Offspring #3 is sitting on Melanie Griffith's lap during the Shabbos scene. Melanie hand feeds #3 chicken as she gazes longingly at actor Ariel. Only took two takes to get the shot.