Ariel's high school graduation picture from Yeshiva Gedolah, Los Angeles, June 1998.
You are all invited to The ninth annual Ariel Avrech ZT’L Memorial Lecture that will take place Sunday, June 3, 2012, at 10 AM at the Young Israel of Century City, followed by brunch.
Young Israel of Century City
9317 West Pico Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90035
RSVP to Rebekah at the synagogue office: (310) 273-6954
For those unable to attend the lecture will be posted here at Seraphic Secret.
Karen and I are proud to announce that Joel Pollak will deliver this year’s lecture: “The Mainstream Media’s Betrayal of Israel.”
Joel grew up in Chicago where he attended Solomon Schechter Day School and graduated Niles North High School as class valedictorian. He attended Harvard College and then earned his law degree from Harvard Law School. Additionally, Joel has a Masters Degree in Jewish Studies from the University of Cape Town, South Africa where he was born.
Joel is a brilliant and articulate commentator on talk radio, Fox News and CNN. Currently, he serves as the Editor-in-Chief and in-house counsel to the influential Breitbart.com websites. The lecture will address the following questions: At what point did the mainstream media turn against Israel and why do they consistently demonize the Jewish State? How should supporters of Israel combat this insidious betrayal?
When we memorialize Ariel, we not only remember the past, we imagine a future that might have been.
Had he lived, Ariel would be in the prime of his life, turning thirty-one years-old.
We imagine him, married to a lovely and modest young woman, perhaps with several of the six daughters he wished for, all named for the Jewish expressions of joy: Gilah, Rena, Ditzah, Chedvah, Reah, Shalom, and Reut.
Always sensitive to the needs of others, but immersed in learning Torah, Ariel was pursuing a degree in Special Education. But he aspired for more and tormented himself at the age of twenty pondering a choice of career, even when in the throes of critical illness.
Ariel never doubted that he would survive. He sincerely believed that his biggest challenge was finding his life’s path. The physical challenges were incidental compared to the task of learning, and spiritual growth.
Ariel raised our family to a higher level of holiness. He inspired his sisters with his sweet humility and kindness which guided them in choosing their husbands, men he would embrace as brothers.
We feel diminished by his loss, for he was a beacon illuminating our family with a special light. From the time Ariel was born, we always said, “Ariel is special.” We will continue to declare it every day, and especially on the day of his memorial lecture.
Contrary to all logic, as time passes, our memories of Ariel have become more vivid. The images of every stage of his life are easier to evoke in all nuance and detail.
This is a mixed blessing since it intensifies our longing for his smile, his steadfastness, his intelligence and kindness. Yet the enrichment of memory strengthens his role in our family as a luminous spirit, guiding us in the corporeal world.
His goodness, his Torah scholarship and modest piety are a constant reminder of what we should all strive for in our lives.
Indeed, Ariel’s absence has been transformed into a deeply felt presence.
Karen hugs Ariel on his first day as a student at Ner Israel Rabbinical Academy, Baltimore, 1998.
Karen and I wish all our friends and relatives a lovely and inspirational Shabbat and a joyous Shavuot.
Shavuot is a holiday in which we celebrate:
1. The giving of the Torah to the Jewish people.
2. The harvesting of wheat in Israel.
3. The ripening of the first fruit in the land of Israel.
In a sense, Shavuot provides a resolution to the holiday of Passover.
On Passover, the Jewish people were freed from slavery.
And on Shavuot the Jewish people, as freed slaves, were given liberty when G-d transmitted the Ten Commandments at Mt. Sinai.
Freedom for the Jewish people, first and foremost, means accepting and living the moral code transmitted by G-d through the written and oral Torah.
Indeed, the Ten Commandments are not only the foundation of Judaism but the basis of moral law for all civilized nations.
Perhaps this is the reason Jews have been persecuted for so long. The world has never forgiven our gift of ethical standards, our love of goodness and—
—and the mitzvah to hate evil.
Seraphic Secret will be off-line until Tuesday in celebration of the holiday.
Ariel Chaim Avrech, ZT'L, May His Righteous Memory be a Blessing.
8 Comments
Robert:
I never met Ariel but you have done so well keeping his memory alive that I feel I know him as the promising young man he was. The lectures assure he will be remembered every year and as Bill said, it is obvious your lives have changed for the better because of your knowing him, albeit for too short a time.
My song just graduated from Mizzou with his MBA, turned 23 and found out he passed the CPA exam, all this month. I cannot comprehend what it would do to me to lose him at such a young age and can only look on with admiration the way you and your family have handled his passing. I will be there in spirit for the lecture and anticipate listening as soon it is available.
Oh, I have to say again that Ariel’s graduation picture is so great. It is like you can see the goodness and potential residing deep inside him.
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Johnny:
Congrats on oyur son’s graduation. You must be very proud.
Yes, we love the picture of Ariel because, just as you say, his goodness shines through.
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I would have been honored to have attended Ariel Avrech ZT’L Memorial Lecture this morning. Montana is a long way away. I will look forward to reading the lecture by Joel Pollak. May your memories of your son continue to inspire you and your family.
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Kohana:
Montana is far away. BUt we will post a streaming video of the lecture so you can watch it at your leisure.
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Dear Robert,
Reading your poignant post about Ariel left me in tears. My husband and I too have an only-son – who graduated from college just last weekend. As we waited in the parking lot of the university for him after commencement - to join his grandparent’s and us for the drive to a restaurant for a celebratory meal – we witnessed another “young man” (child) weeping in his grandmother’s arms. He was overcome by grief that his grandfather had passed away and had not been in attendance at his graduation. We felt such a sense of gratitude that our son’s beloved grandparents were still with us to share this milestone in their dear grandson’s life. He begins graduate school in the fall – and as my parents are getting up there in age - it is probable that one of them will no longer be with us for the next graduation. However, as I read about Ariel - and the fact that to you, your wife and family – Ariel is still palpably present to you in a visceral and concrete manner (that was my understanding, anyway) – I thought to myself that our dear one’s never really leave us – they remain in our hearts and minds for however long those of us that loved them are left on this earth – and afterwards, we are joined with them once-again.
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Nickie:
Thanks so much for the kind and generous comment. Indeed, Ariel is still with us in spirit.
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Ariel is honored as you remember him – and by how your lives changed for the better by knowing him.
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Bill:
Ariel made us better people.
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