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August 06, 2009
Scenes From a Wedding III
Karen and I are flying back to Los Angeles later today.
It's hard to believe that Offspring #3 is now a married woman. Just a short time ago I was an insane spectator/fan at her high school basketball games—Go YULA Panthers!—and watching Offspring #3 break full court presses with elegance and determination.
Her husband is a sensitive and gentle young man whose soul is finely woven with glittering particles of Jewish mysticism.
They are an exquisitely balanced couple.
My new, wonderful son-in-law dances with his maternal uncle, author and journalist, Yossi Klein Halevi.
The wedding singer is the supremely talented Eitan Katz. When our son, Ariel Chaim ZT'L, was stricken with cancer and unable to attend school anymore, Eitan came over to our house with his acoustic guitar and performed a private concert for Ariel.
Offspring #3's friends join hands and dance around the bride.
My Los Angeles friends help celebrate our simcha. I'm dancing with Sol, a Holocaust survivor from the legendary town of Munkacs Hungary. Over 80 members of Sol's family were murdered by the Germans. Sol was an inmate in Auschwitz and Buchenwald. On a death march of over 70 miles, Sol, then just 14-years old, carried his younger brother on his back the whole way. Sol's presence at the wedding is a great honor and a living testament to the courage and enduring legacy of the Jewish people.
Offspring #3 dances with Karen—her lovely and gracious mother-in-law. For the past few days every time I call out “Karen,” two women respond. By the way, my sister is also named Caron. I've been searching for some deep, Kabbalistic meaning to this rain of Karen's. Alas, I'm coming up dry. Whatever.
Behold: the four most important women in my life. Without them I am nothing. Karen—my Karen—dances with Ma'ayan Ariel, Offspring #2 and Offspring #3.
Tomorrow, Friday Footwear: The Wedding Edition
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at August 6, 2009 02:39 AM
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.
Good morning, Robert, and Mazal Tov!
Work and family commitments have kept me from visiting for the past few weeks -- imagine my great joy when I opened Seraphic Secret to find not 1, not 2, but 3 wonderful posts about your family's wedding! Great joy. Great blessings. Great memories. Congratulations to you and Karen for gaining a "another son".
May G-d's love and blessings fill your home and the homes of your daughters forever.
Shalom,
Joe
Posted by: ProphetJoe at August 6, 2009 06:05 AM
May you know only joy from your growing family!!
MAZAL TOV!!!
Posted by: Rivka with a capital A at August 6, 2009 06:31 AM
Mazel tov again - what a beautiful wedding!
Posted by: tnspr569 at August 6, 2009 06:37 AM
Mazel Tov!
Posted by: Chris Grier at August 6, 2009 09:25 AM
" ... For the past few days every time I call out “Karen,” two women respond. By the way, my sister is also named Caron. I've been searching for some deep, Kabbalistic meaning to this rain of Karen's. ... "
'Keren' in Hebrew has several meanings, here are two:
[1] a Seed from which a fruit tree can grow
[2] Principal (financial, the 'seed money' from which a fortune can be amassed)
the Gematria
(numerical value of the Hebrew letters, sometimes used for Kabbalistic inferences)
of Keren is 350
the same as;
'Isha Ach Tova'
(A Woman who is nothing but Goodness)...
you are very fortunate to be surrounded by such Women
Posted by: exdemexlib at August 6, 2009 09:46 AM
Thank you for sharing so many nice pictures of your daughter's (and your) special day.
Posted by: Bill Brandt at August 6, 2009 10:07 AM
"the Gematria
(numerical value of the Hebrew letters, sometimes used for Kabbalistic inferences)
of Keren is 350
the same as;
'Isha Ach Tova'
(A Woman who is nothing but Goodness)..."
sorry,
my mistake :-(((
off by one, only 349
no wonder i never made it to
Lamed Vav Nistar School,
(or MIT) ;-)))
Posted by: exdemexlib at August 6, 2009 10:18 AM
Congratulations and I wish you and yours many years years of wonderful and exciting memories. Thank you for sharing your day with us.
Posted by: Tamster at August 6, 2009 04:54 PM
Mazal Tov!
Posted by: Jack at August 6, 2009 05:46 PM
Wow!.... Whoa.... Yeah.... Awwww.... Hm.... Yes.
(What the fly heard as I viewed the pictures.)
Posted by: Jeremiah at August 6, 2009 07:57 PM
MAZAL TOV
I didnt' know that you were related to Yossi Klein. Small world. We've known him since he was the yeled pele of SSSJ.
All the Karens must be "keren or," rays of light, very special. Amazing how certain names repeat.
Posted by: Batya from Shiloh at August 6, 2009 10:06 PM
Karen could be Keren קרן which is the symbol for Mashaich, as we say in the Shmoneh Esreh:
את צמח דוד עבדך מהרה תצמיח וקרנו תרום בישועתך
Posted by: Yisrael Medad at August 8, 2009 10:36 PM
Dear Robert,
I celebrate your abundance. Mazel Tov! This is not the first time your blog has brought tears to my eyes! Every single photo made me cry more than the last and the photo of you kissing your daughter's head, well, what an extraordinary blessing it must be to have you for a father! And Karen for a mother? I imagine that the profound loss and pain you have endured, makes the joy of such occasions, even sweeter. You and your wonderful women, deserve every happiness.
Much love to you and your wonderful expanded family,
Nora
Posted by: Nora at August 9, 2009 09:35 AM