Jackie Danicki

What a beautiful tribute to a father from my very dear friend Robert Avrech.

I’ve had the honor of meeting Rabbi Avrech twice - once at his granddaughter’s wedding, and again at the annual memorial lecture in honor of his grandson, Ariel Avrech ZT’L. Apart from the noble acts and achievements chronicled by Robert on the occasion of his father’s birthday, I think his great accomplishment must be to have raised a son as caring, compassionate, smart, talented, and just plain decent as my friend Robert. The entire Avrech family is very warm and welcoming - I consider them mishpacha and consider our relationship one of the greatest gifts (and miracles) of my life. Rabbi Abraham must take a massive amount of credit for this.

The Avrechs have just announced the speaker and topic for the Sixth Annual Ariel Avrech ZT’L Yahrtzeit Lecture in LA, at Young Israel of Century City, on June 21. I was there last year but will be traveling and unable to attend this year. It was truly a riveting talk in 2008, and I’m sure this year will be just as compelling:

The title of Rabbi Pruzansky’s lecture is: Conformity in Jewish Life: Virtue, Vice or Affectation?

Is conformity a Torah ideal, and should we encourage it in our children and communities ? Or does conformity restrict our creative impulses, diminish our simchat hachaim—joy of life—and potentially impair our service of Hashem ? Is there a value in pretending to conform externally ? This lecture will explore the Torah’s balance between conformity and individuality.

No need to RSVP - just show up on time. There will be a fantastic brunch after the lecture, all courtesy of the Avrech family and friends. Even if you’re a gentile like me, it’s a thought-provoking way to spend a morning, and to honor Rabbi Abraham Avrech’s late grandson, whose greatest love was learning Torah. May Ariel’s neshama have an aliyah.

Filed under: Life