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What They Are Saying About Ari
Do you have a prayer that you'd like to share with
Ari? Send it to us via email at
ari@arigrashin.com.
When you write him, we'll add you to a distribution list of people
that would like to receive updates on his progress. If you would prefer
not to receive such updates, please indicate this preference in your email.
Anyone who is reading this
website already has an idea of the kind of person Ari Grashin is. I'd like to
add a few comments of my own.
I've been blessed to have had many influential people in my life. But, besides
my parents, I've never met anyone who affected me as much or as deeply as Ari.
The courage that he shows every hour of every day is so awe-inspiring that it
usually leaves me in tears. Tears of admiration, tears of humility, and most of
all, tears of joy.
Ari can light up your day with a simple smile, a typical teenage grunt, or by
ranting and raving about anything from the Torah to major league baseball.
Yet what's most impressive about Ari, to me, is his humanity. Young children
flock to him, adults gravitate to him, and his peers look up to him. That
doesn't just happen. There's a reason for it. The reason? Simply put, Ari
epitomizes most of the important words in our language: respect, honor,
happiness, dignity, care, kindness, generosity, strength, and love.
While those words still don't do him justice, I would like to say this: The
young man under the basketball kipah is the person I admire more than anyone
else in the world.
Sincerely,
Steve
I was just going through my
nightly nerdly routine at
s’s-laws.com and saw a post that led me to your site.
While I'm very sorry to learn of your illness, everything that I've read
about you shows that not only are you fortunate enough to be far from
facing your ordeal alone, but that you are doing so with tremendous
courage and stoutness of heart.
I speak from personal experience when I say that an upbeat outlook and
an unwaveringly positive frame of mind makes all the difference in the
world. Modern medicine can do wonderous things, but it's bravery like
what is obviously present within you that makes all the difference.
I'll be thinking about you, Ari, and sending as many of those thoughts
as I can your way.
: )
A. D.
Hi Ari,
I came across your website and just wanted to drop you a short line to say "hi"
and offer you a little Chizuk. From the sound of it, you are clearly a very
strong and courageous young man, with a very loving and supportive family.
If there is one thing I've learned (and this is from personal family
experience), doctors do not know everything. My Grandmother had cancer forty
years ago. Nobody expected her to live past a year or two max. Today, Baruch
Hashem, she is the proud great-grandmother of many and the cancer never
returned. My own mother had cancer and I can tell you that her doctor's original
prognosis was hgihly inaccurate. Hashem is the master of everything and it is
He, not the doctors, who decide our fate. The doctors are only the messengers
and their understanding of science and medicine, as sophisticated as it may
seem, is still very limited.
In short, hang tough and try to keep positive...there are many people out there
davening for you! I look forward to seeing an update on your site soon that
describes how you've beaten this terrible disease! :)
Take care, Refuah Shilaymah and best of luck!
A.A.
Toronto, Canada
Shalom! Ari! You are in our prayers! I will write something more substanial but
I was just overwhelmed reading your website for the first time.
F. & N.
Hello Ari. I just heard about your condition today from a cousin who lives
in California. I admire your strength and bravery. I cannot imagine what
you are going through but you are lucky to have so many friends and family
that care about you so much and help you through with this ordeal. I will
think of you in my prayers and only hope that you get better soon then
later.
Keep staying strong and never lose hope. Your friends, family, and people
around the world who read about you should be your motivation to get well.
It is in you to get better. May Hashem bless you and your family and may you
have a speedy recovery. You are truly an inspiration to me, and everyone
around you, to not take life or anything/anyone in it for granted.
G-d bless you.
Sincerely yours,
S. A.
Florida
Ari!
I don't know if you will remember me-i came to Seattle for the vancouver
Shabbaton, and I met you at your house (with mayer, simon, and randi)! It
was so nice to meet you! I want you to know how much everyone over here
(Long Island) thinks about you, and has you in their tefilot! I wish you a
complete refuah. Ari, you are an unbelievable person, and an inspiration to
us all.
All the very best,
J.W.
P.S. you look amazing in your gallery pics!!!
Hi Ari,
I heard about your site from Tony (he, like myself, is a member of
the gang over at S’s-Laws.com). I was very moved by your site and,
while I'm not a religious man, I would like to let you know that you are in
my thoughts and I'm pulling for you. Hang in there, kiddo!
Get Well,
Mike
Dear Ari,
hey, my name is lauren kirschenbaum, im fourteen years old and i live in new
jersey. even though we live so far from you, we all know about what you are
going through and we all daven for you. i can't even imagine what you are going
thorugh, being so close to my age, and i really admire your strength. im sure
you hear this a lot, but if you ever feel like you need someone to talk to,
please e-mail me. and my friend is here and she also is davening for you. her
name is rebecca and she says that if you want, you could e-mail her too . we
know you probably don't want to talk to complete strangers or anything, but we
just wanted to let you know that we care and that we are praying for you and for
a full recovery. refuah shelemah!!
Love,
L. & R.
Dear Ari,
hi, my name is Rebecca, I'm 14 and I live in New Jersey. First of all I just
want to let you know that we all know about you here, across the country from
you and we are thinking and davening for you in our community.
You have really inspired me. I know that must sound like a cliche already, and
I'm sure you have heard it before many times, but it's for real. I went on your
website and read about you, how you are now and what you have gone through in
your life and how you still so strongly believe in Judiasm. You haven't given up
and you never should. You tought me that I should care a little more about it. I
am an orthodox Jew and I consider myself a good person, but I know that I should
be better and you have showed me that if you can do it i should too. Thank you
so much Ari, you have done so much. I will continue to daven for you and I wish
you a heartfelt Refuah Shelema!
love,
Rebecca
BE'H
June 30th, 2002
Dear Ari,
Shalom! I hope that you are in high spirits...I just wanted you to know
how much our family thinks about you and cares. You're always the first
person in my thoughts when I say tehillim. We were really happy when
your parents sponsored the mezuzah and tefillin event, so that we could
feel like we were doing something in your merit. We lived a long time in
Israel and have many connections there and throughout the U.S., and have
passed your name along everywhere for Refuah Shleimah. My mom has a
friend who participated in a marathon fundraiser for cancer, and one of
the names printed on her T-shirt was yours-this was in Pennsylvannia. So
know that people all over are rooting for you and davenning for you.
It seems like just yesterday that it was Summer 2001 Kol Rena and now
here it is starting again. We will miss you there. I'll be teaching the
art again. A and I frequently ask about you and talk about what a
great counselor you are, how much they enjoyed your pranks, and how much
fun it was to mess around with you!
We pray for a complete healing for you and joy in every moment!
B'Shalom, B and the rest of the S’s,
Dear Ari,
We haven't yet had the privlege to meet you, but hope to soon- (in
Jerusalem). Someone asked us to daven for you, and showed us this website.
No matter how much you've been through, you are lucky to be so loved. I'm
a nurse, and had cancer three years ago- so I can understand a bit of what
you're up against. But something tells me that you are not only going to be
okay, you're going to come out of this and do something super special to
help others. We live just over the Har HaBayit and the Kotel- and pray from
here for your complete recovery. If there is someway we can help- PLEASE
let us know!
Withlove,
P. & C.D.S.
Hi Ari,
Please hang in there and keep on with your strong faith. We are all
praying for you and hope you get better. It's ok to be scared, but don't
be scared- you have a strong and loving family, and they have connected
you to the rest of the Jewish world. I've read about you and I really
admire your strong faith, courage, and love.
Best Wishes,
D.K.
Dear Ari,
Among many unbelievable characteristics - one thing I always remembered about
you was your athletic talents. I remember when my family came up and stayed at
your house many summers ago. I honestly never saw a better basketball player
than you. I'll never forget the hospitality you and your family showed us, or
the striking personality within you. You extended such kindness to everyone, and
always carried yourself with a smile. Your character was so unique I never
forgot any of the valuable tips I could pick up from you while we were there -
from watching you play basketball with Mayer and Josh, to having races with Zach.
When your family came to our house a few times in Vancouver - i remember
marveling at the way you played ping-pong with Dovid (my brother). But it wasn't
just your unbelievable athletic talents that put you in another league, - it was
also your strength of character. It was visible even then. Although I haven't
seen you in many years (at least 4 or 5), I have always thought about you - and
have always used you as a model for the way I should conduct myself in certain
aspects of life. You have influenced me even then - and continue to now.
Your in the tefillot of so many Jews around the world. Here in New Jersey, I
sent an e-mail with your name to over a hundred fifty people. And in my school -
where 400 students attend - your name is said every day. You have elevated the
spiritual level of the Jewish people all around the world.
Tests are here to challenge us, and to strengthen our inner character. Without a
doubt, you have again surpassed normal expectations as you did before. You have
again put yourself in another league (aside for sports) - seeing the strength
with which you carry yourself through this difficult challenge.
May you have a speedy Refuah Shelaima, and have success with the gifts that G-d
gave you - so the rest of the Jewish people can learn from you.
Always,
Aviva F.
hi ari,
i just read about you and your family this morning when i logged onto email at
work.
i received an e-scmooze from chaim levine and it was all about you.
i then clicked on your website and read all of the content.
first, i prayed for you in my office this morning and will continue to do so on
a regular basis.
second, i recently had a family over to our house for shabbat dinner. i saw
aviad (it was during the play-offs and we talked a lot about the lakers). he
told me about his hair cut in solidarity for a friend who is fighting cancer.
this morning i put the pieces together and realized that friend is you.
ari - i know you have lots of friends and family supporting you through this
difficult time. it also appears you have a lot of people you have never met
supporting you as well. count me in on your team.
i wish and pray we will meet one day soon and i can see that big and wonderful
smile of yours.
until then, just know you have one more person in your corner as of this
morning.
b'shalom,
judy n.
Dear Ari ,
Thank you so much for sharing your story with us all. We are good friends
of Chaim and Techiya Levine. You are very blessed to have such an active
caring community. You are doing so much to open peoples hearts and minds.
May all your sweetness and love come back to you 1 million fold in waves of
healing.
We wish a completely healing in body, mind and spirit,
Emily, Andy and baby Max G.Brookline MA
Ari,
You probably don't know me but you may have met my fiancé since she works in the
Seattle Jewish community. I received an email about you are going through and a
link to your web-page (http://www.arigrashin.com/) from AISH. I have said
several prayers for you and will continue to do so.
Stefanie and I are getting married this summer and our thoughts are filled with
an amazing amount of creation, love, and community. We send that to you and pray
that you will get better and that you will continue to lead such an active and
caring life. Our well wishes are also with your family and friends, as this must
also be an intense time for them.
Thank you for helping me care that much more about our world.
Be well,
____________
DCR & SH
hey ari
its dana
u dont know me i am from fairlawn nj
just wanted u to know, if theres anything u need, just ask.
my friend aviva sent me this website of urs and i was a litle freakd out cuz wen
i saw ur picture, it lookd exactly like a frend of mine.
neways, ur website is great and its no wonder that close to 1000 hav already
visited it. i have to go, ill talk to u latr.
luv always,dana
Hello Ari!
I heard about you from a friend of mine. I just wanted you to know that
some Jews as far away as Japan know about your problem and are praying for your
recovery.
A close friend of mine has undergone a morrow transplant surgery just
a couple of months ago. His chances of recovery were estimated at 8
percent!!!! Now he is amost back to normal, thanks to his faith and hope as
well as faith and hope of people around him.
Keep it up and keep me updated on your situation. Hope to get an
invitation to your wedding :-))
Shlomo K. (Saitama, Japan)
Hi, Ari-
A friend of ours here in Chicago sent your web page to us and we want to
send greetings of hope and chizuk during your treatments and recovery.
We will daven and say Tehillim with you in mind, and stay in touch with the
site.
We have an aunt who lives in Seattle and remember visiting there once when
I was younger. My cousins know Rabbi David, so we feel like we have a little
bit of a kesher with your environment. Her husband was a professor
emeritus at the university, and also worked with Boeing for many years as a
consultant.
I plan on sending your website to my cousin who now lives in Boston. I'm
sure she will keep up with things as well.
Again wishing you a strong and complete recovery from Chicago.
Bye for now,
Aliza Miriam
Hi Ari,
I saw your website and I just wanted you to know I was praying for you. I was
really touched by your story.
G-d's Word is always my source of strength, so I thought I'd share my favorite
passage with you.
Isaiah 52:14- 53:12
Just as many were astonished at you, My people,
So His appearance was marred more than any man
And His form more than the sons of men.
Thus He will sprinkle many nations,
Kings will shut their mouths on account of Him;
For what had not been told them they will see,
And what they had not heard they will understand.
Who has believed our message?
And to whom has the arm of the L-RD been revealed?
For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot,
And like a root out of parched ground;
He has no stately form or majesty
That we should look upon Him,
Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him.
He was despised and forsaken of men,
A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
And like one from whom men hide their face
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
Surely our griefs He Himself bore,
And our sorrows He carried;
Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten of G-d, and afflicted.
But He was pierced through for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our iniquities;
The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him,
And by His scourging we are healed.
All of us like sheep have gone astray,
Each of us has turned to his own way;
But the L-RD has caused the iniquity of us all
To fall on Him.
He was oppressed and He was afflicted,
Yet He did not open His mouth;
Like a lamb that is led to slaughter,
And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers,
So He did not open His mouth.
By oppression and judgment He was taken away;
And as for His generation, who considered
That He was cut off out of the land of the living
For the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke was due?
His grave was assigned with wicked men,
Yet He was with a rich man in His death,
Because He had done no violence,
Nor was there any deceit in His mouth.
But the L-RD was pleased
To crush Him, putting Him to grief;
If He would render Himself as a guilt offering,
He will see His offspring,
He will prolong His days,
And the good pleasure of the L-RD will prosper in His hand.
As a result of the anguish of His soul,
He will see it and be satisfied;
By His knowledge the Righteous One,
My Servant, will justify the many,
As He will bear their iniquities.
Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great,
And He will divide the booty with the strong;
Because He poured out Himself to death,
And was numbered with the transgressors;
Yet He Himself bore the sin of many,
And interceded for the transgressors.
Avinu Malkeinu, Shelach Refuah Shleimah L'Cholei Amecha
Love,
Nancy S.
The sincere prayers and
cries of each lonely Jew are always heard by the Ribbono Shel Olam and do not go
unanswered. Certainly this is true of heartfelt communal prayer which emerges
from family, friends, and community in behalf of a single individual. One
cannot help but be impressed by the dramatic outpouring of emotion and tefillah
that is occurring in Seattle, the West Coast and far beyond on behalf of Aryeh
Noam Chaim ben Devorah Channah. Allow me to add my sincerest personal tefillos
and emotional outcry to this plea.
Avinu Malkeinu, Shelach
Refuah Shleimah L'Cholei Amecha [Our
Father, Our King send forth a complete recovery to the sick of your people].
Looking forward to seeing
postings of Besoros Tovos on the Ari Grashin Web site.
Sincerely,
Rabbi Yissocher Frand
June 3, 2002
It has been my pleasure to
satisfy the request of my good friend David Grashin and transcribe the preceding
abridged version of Rabbi Frand's Teshuva Drasha for the Ari Grashin Web
Site.
May the words of this
Drosha give us all Chizuk to energetically and intensely continue our
recital of Tehillim and other prayers on behalf of “Ari” and may the
relationship we establish with the Almighty through our sincere prayers bring us
to the level where we are deserving of having these prayers answered.
May we hear good tidings
and find fulfillment of the prayer "And it will be that before they call, I will
answer; while they yet speak, I will hear. For You, Hashem, are the One Who
responds in time of distress, Who redeems and rescues in every time of distress
and woe."
Sincerely,
David Twersky
June 3, 2002
Dear Ari, my name is A. B., i live in Manchester, England. I was given the
option to look at your site and i am very glad that i did. I really respect you
for having such strength to carry on with your life, although you are going
through many of life's struggles at the moment. It heartens me to see what
troubles you are having to put up with. Lets hope that with all our our prayers
you will gain even more strength and continue with the high standards which you
have set for yourself. I know it may be hard for you at times but pleased G-d
you will make a speedy recovery and be able to continue life with your many
successful ways. I wish you much luck with the future and good health. All my
love, A. x
Hi Ari,
Just thought i had to write to say that you're in our prayers over here in
Manchester and your site's a great idea- it means so much more to us all when we
can visualise the person we're praying for and it has a different meaning when
we can do so. You certainly seem a very sweet and loving guy if the photos are
anything to go by. You must be one heck of a special guy if G-d has chosen to
test you like this and i know this is easy for me to say but we have to know
that when G-d does these things- causes all this pain and suffering around the
world, it's to test our emunah.If everything that happened would show us G-d's
Light then we would really have no emunah- emunah means to know Hashem is
running the world despite the darkness.That even though things seem wrong and
hopeless, they are all part of Hashem's master plan and although this sounds
wacko, things down here are really not all they seem and when Mashiach comes and
we see what really happened here, we'll thank Hashem for everthing he did for us
in this world. I hope you have a refuah shleima-just remember we're all thinkin
of ya. Keep believing - R.A., Manchester
Dear Ari, and the whole family - I hope you are feeling good and you are
always in my prayers. Great website - you have great pictures up! I work in
the summers at the Fred Hutch with alot of cancer kids and I once read a
book that said one of the best treatments is believing that you are going to get
better and having a awesome smile. It really shows in these pictures that you
are using that treatment the most! Take care. Have a great shabbos.
-Anonymous
Great website!! Kudos to Rick!! But, of course, he has a great subject to work
with. I wanted to be the first to send you an email but with the hits your site
has already gotten I'm sure you've already received much mail. I've shown the
site to many of my friends here at work and they are marking as one of their
"favorites". And well they should if they want to keep working for me! Have a
great time at regionals and we'll be looking for a new picture in your new
shirt. Love you lots and are praying for you and your family many times a day!
-Anonymous
Hello Ari:
My Name is Leah. I'm originally from Colombia, South America but I'm living now
in the USA. I want to say that you are not alone, you have G-d, family and
friends
all around the world there for you. I'm praying for you, I know every thing is
going to be alright. I really love your smile!! It's a beautiful expression of
your soul!
G-d Bless You.
Leah
Hi. I hope you are doing well. A Yaasher Koach for the Zchus of uniting and
stimulating so many people to do Maasim Tovim and Tefillah. Good Shabbos and a
Refuah Shleima
-E.E.
Ari,
We've never met, but I went to school with your dad and wanted to let you know
that my thoughts and prayers are with you. I hope that G-d gives you a complete
healing.
-D.B.
Dear Ari:
May G-d bless you and your family, and grant you a speedy recovery. You and your
family are great examples on how Jewish people cope with adversity. Draw
strength from the prayers of the entire community.
-D B
Dear Ari,
You don't know me, but I saw your site mentioned on the Aish prayer list. I
wanted you to know that I am starting to daven for you. I wanted to compliment
you on your choice of hats as my team lost in the Super Bowl. Had you a Rams
jersey, and they been more aggressive....Anyhow, thanks for supporting my local
team! Keep up the good fight and Tizku Mitzvot (sorry, my Hebrew has worsened)!
Sincerely,
D. M. S.
Hi Ari -
Steve Bunin has been a substitute teacher at my sons' school, The Jewish Day
School, and has spread the word about your web site. I have just read every
word, and your story moved me to tears. I am so impressed with your courage and
faith in G-d, and your willingness to share your experiences. You will be my
prayers and thoughts, and I look forward to checking back often to read news of
your recovery.
Shabbat Shalom,
E. A.
Avinu sh'bashamayim,
Please, a refuah shelemah for Aryeh Noam Chaim ben Devorah Chana. No young man
of such gentle spirit should have to go through such pain and suffering.
May it be your will Hashem, that Aryeh's body will have the strength to combat
this cancer and eliminate it from his entire body and system forever, never to
return. May we all, each and every one of us, undertake to purify ourselves in
thought, behaviour, speech; and may we all speedily return to the daily study of
Torah and keeping Your Mitzvoth. May our efforts please you Hashem, may we be
worthy in your sight, and may our righteousness and worthiness merit a complete
and speedy recovery for Aryeh Noam Chaim ben Devorah Chana. May we always be
kind to one another in speech, deed, thought, and notion.
Ananymous
Hi, Ari.
Several of us met at my home today and said Tehillim on your behalf. We met last
Friday, too. There is also another group I attend that says Tehillim for you, on
Wednesdays.
I told your old classmate Penina about this website and she told me she sent you
a message from school in Denver.
I hope that you are getting lots of good messages. Good Shabbos.
In friendship,
R. H.
Ari,
Our prayers are with you in Katy, Texas.
S. R., J.R.,
Katy, TX (hometown of Nolan Ryan & Roger Clemens)
Hello from Monsey, New York! A friend emailed me Ari's website. It is truly
unbelievable what you as a family have done to reach out to Jews around the
world for you son. I have been so touched by your openness, love, and hope-thank
you for sharing your life so completely.
Please know that I will keep Ari in my prayers that he should have a complete
recovery and that Hashem should continue to give you all strength, health,
friendship and family, and only bracha and nachus from each other.
Ari sounds like he is a fighter! Thank you for the inspiration.
Good Shabbos and thank you, again.
B. N.
Ari,
Shalom. I am praying for you.
judith
Dear Ari:
I don't know if you remember me. I am E. G.'s father and just passed my 90th
birthday. I am sort of a Gabbai at our synagogue. Every Shabbat at our minyan we
say a special Misheberach for your refuah
shleima. I showed our congregants your picture and tell them what a brave fellow
you are. Everyone sends you their best wishes. Chasak v'ematz!
Shabbat shalom
E. O.
hey ari,
i am a good friend of steve bunin's and he speaks SOOOOOOOOO HIGHLY of you!
i want to send wishes of good health to you. you are in my prayers. you are in a
lot of people's prayers, i hope you know!
GOD BLESS YOU, ARI!
sincerely, j. m. ... Los Angeles, CA
Dear Ari,
You are in my thoughts and in my prayers. Best wishes for full recovery.
Love,
L. C.
Ari:
Hey, I'm friends with Steve Bunin and he's been telling me all about you this
past year. From the stories Steve tells me and the picutes I just saw on your
website I can tell that you are a pretty amazing person. Anyhow, I just wanted
to let you know that you're in my prayers and I wish you and your family all the
best. Take care,
M. M., San Francisco
Ari - I'm a close friend to Steve Bunin. I myself used to live in Seattle for
about 9 years and have turned my daughters into huge Mariner fans. Steve and I
used to work together, play hoops together and coached a basketball team
together that went undefeated. He has bragged about you and your team
often....and from what I hear your quite a good hooper and most of all you sound
like a great kid. I wish the best to you in your battle. I have no doubt in my
mind that you will come out of this on top like you have so many times in life.
My family and I will say many prayers for you and your family. Always be
positive and strong, and always be a leader.
Best of luck to you,
Christian K., Flagstaff, AZ
hi my name is avrami and i went to yeshiv with ur brother josh. josh
and i are good friends and i was heartbroken to hear bout ur condition.
anyway iw ant u to know that ur in my prayers and im pulling for u. take care
and ahve a refuah shelaima-avrami
Hi Ari,
I want you to know that i feel terrible about your situation and i
wish you a complete refua shelama, and i will daven with you in mind , and im
hoping you will get a complete refua
Sincerely,
J. R.
Ari,
I am a friend of Steve Bunin’s. Steve has told me a lot about you. I heard all
about your super bowl adventure. While I am a passionate 49er fan I have many
friends from Boston so I was thrilled to see the Pat’s take it from the lambs….erh,
I mean the Ram’s. Please tell Steve that Jerry Rice is still a better receiver
then Steve Largent.
I just wanted to say hi and let you know that many people are thinking of you.
Please give Steve my best. As the saying goes any friend of Steve’s is a friend
of mine…. All my best
Craig S., San Francisco, CA
Hey Ari:
Just wanted to say hi and let you know that we have allot of people here in
New York praying for you. At Ezzy Bezzy, I could always count on you to lift my
spirits. Whether it was watching your smooth jumpshot at our basketball outings,
or your wicked inside-out bowling
spin (I'm still never able to figure out how you do that), you made those
programs enjoyable for me and all the other participants.
When you joined us on outings (and I 'm not just saying this to be mushy, I'm
being serious) I forgot about all that stuff and you really made things
enjoyable for me.
I join my whole family and many of my friends who don't know you but have
heard of you, in wishing you a complete Refua Shelema.
Love,
Y. A.
P.S. Regards to your wonderful family
Hi Ari!
I am a sixth grader at JDS.
I just want to give you a few comferting words that my mom tells me when I
feel bad or sick, NEVER LOSE HOPE!
Ari,
Hope you feel better! Good luck! We are in 6th grader's at jds but we feel
your pain.
From,
M, H, and M
Hi Ari,
I'm sorry about your case. I hope you're doing okay.
Sincerely,
M. R.
hi, i got to the J.D.S, i like your website
-Unknown 6th-Grader
Dear Ari,
You see, you always thought I didn't remember your name...but I always did. I
just wanted you to know that I am thinking of you and your family, and am
praying to hashem for your recovery, as well as encouraging others here in
Israel to do so. In fact, I went to the kotel today to have a little talk with
God for you. From what I hear from your brothers, and friends, you are such an
inspiration especially regarding how you are dealing with your disease.
Keep fighting. Many people are rooting for you,
Take Care
D. A. (Vancouver, BC)
Hi!
I don't know if you remember me, but I'm M. O.'s sister (the one who's into arts
and crafts, not the one who bakes, sorry!).
I just wanted to let you know that Y and M have been keeping me posted on Ari's
progress and in fact showed me the e-mail update you sent out around Shavous
time.
I'm currently co-heading a Jewish teen group for kids in public school and I
showed them the e-mail because I especially liked the paragraph asking everyone
to take on a mitzva in Ari's honor and to do it with feeling. We used the e-mail
as a springboard for a discussion on good deeds and prayer and whether on not
G-d listens. I was very impressed with what these teens had to say.
In any case, the real reason I'm writing is because I asked everybody to get
back to me if they planned to do some for Ari and one girl e-mailed me that
although she isn't sure she believes in the power of prayer yet, she is taking
out a few minutes each day to pray for Ari, and that when she goes to synagogue
on Saturday and the Rabbi asks for the names of sick people to pray for, she
would give Ari's name.
I was very touched by her response, because I didn't even think she went to
synagogue - her family doesn't even keep Shabbos at home. So I just wanted to
keep you posted about what people on the east coast are doing. Also, I just
found out about your website and took a look at it. I plan on making Ari the
wallpaper on my computer at work, where I'll see it most often.
Please let me know if there's anything else I can do to help.
Thank you,
Ruthie
Hi Ari,
I have been and will continue to pray for you. All our best and most healing
wishes are going out to you and your family.
Lots of love and hope,
cousin C.B. and D.B., C.B., and A.B.
Dear Ari,
I just got done looking at your homepage. You have been in our thoughts and
prayers since we first heard about it. One email we had received suggested doing
a mitzvah in your name.
So I wanted to tell you about our Mitzvah for Ari. Congregation Beth Sholom had
it first Mitzvah day a few Sundays ago. My husband and I decided while we would
go help our shul, we would do it in your honour. I went in early - as it easier
with a baby to sometimes do things separately - and then D and E (almost 2) came
over later. We helped clean the shul, D donated blood and we cared for other
toddlers while their parents planted flowers on the ground. The day was quite
fun and had extra meaning as we thought about you as we went about our chores.
We continue to pray for your complete and quick recovery.
Sincerely,
S.L & D.L. (Anchorage, AK)
Ari,
You may not remember me, but I used to babysit for you and your brothers in
Alaska. I've been hanging out with Meir when he was here in Israel. When
you were born, I was under the impression that your parents chose your name
because they liked my name. I felt so proud.
Anyway, your site is beautiful and wanted you to know that my friends and I
are praying for a full recovery for you and thinking about you often. I
wish we all could have the strength, faith and conviction that you have.
I wish you only the best.
Love,
Ari E., Jerusalem, Israel
Dear Ari:
You were a little boy when we moved from Seattle, and I am sure you do not
remember us, but I remember what a cutie you were. I see that now you are a fine
young man. I was very sorry to find your website and to hear that you
have been through so much, and we are now davening for your recovery. I am
considering which new mitzvah to take on, in the merit of which I hope for
your complete recovery. I pray that The Blessed One receives all of the
prayers and efforts for good that are performed on your behalf and sends His
healing straight to you, and gives your family strength, too.
With love, Ari,
Y. M.
Hi Ari.. You will (for sure) not remember me. but guess what? I was your
babysitter when you were only a few months old in Anchorage, I love you always
and I have pic. of you when you were a baby, you can ask you mom about Janny,
the milqui's sister from Mexico in Alaska Restaurant.
Im keeping you in my prayers since Milqui Told me about your condition.
Hopefully we have the best medicine - the power of a prayer -
Let me tell you Ari, I cried to much when i had to leave you and moved to my
country again, because you were like my own baby and you even understand Spanish
as well.. Now Im happily married and I have a 5 years old girl (karla) .
Love you... Kisses,
janny
Hello Ari,
My name is David Edelheit, we have a common friend, Steve Bunin. My wife,
Barbara and I are praying for you. As Steve says, you are trying your best to
remain focused on the good things in life. This seems difficult at times, but
you sound like the type of person that can DO it.
You rooting for the Lakers or the Nets?
Your new friends,
The E’s
Hi Ari,
A friend just recommended your website to me, and I took a look at it. We were
talking about how difficult it is to know what to say to someone who has
obviously been through a very painful time in their life. I still don't know
what to say to someone who has experienced a great deal of pain, but here goes
another attempt:
Judging from your website, it looks as though your parents clearly see the
goodness of your heart, and find so much joy by having you in their life.
They seem very proud of your accomplishments and your unique personality
traits. I am thankful that my brother is healthy, but I am aware every day that
there is no way for me to know why a certain tragedy befalls one person and does
not befall another person of equal standing/humanity. In other words, it is just
as likely that my brother could become sick. This reminds me that I must be
thankful for the people I love, just as your parents are thankful for you.
I don't know if you will be offended by this kind of message. I still don't know
what to say to people in pain. But I know that I love my brother, and my brother
is the same age as you, and that you seem like a boy with a good heart.
Peace and love to you,
S. M.
Good morning Ari,
I got the e-mail about your story and a link to your website and well, here I
am.
So - since your website told me your story - I thought I would take the
opportunity to tell you mine. I guess I should start by telling you that I'm no
stranger to cancer. My grandmother passed away from cancer when I was merely a
year old and so, growing up, we always discussed the disease. Besides that
instance, though, I never really was exposed to anyone related to me, or really
close to me, being diagnosed with cancer. Then, while spending my year in Israel
after graduating high school, my next door neighbor/"godmother" was diagnosed
with pancreatic cancer. Her death devastated me and, since then, I made a
personal pledge to do anything I could to find a cure.
I finally had the opportunity when I first started working. I am a publicists,
and specifically a sports/entertainment publicists. Some of my clients included
the NFL Quarterback Club, the WNBA, New Balance Athletic Shoes, NBA Team-Up, The
Goodwill Games, etc. I've met them all - Boomer Esiason, Dan Jansen, Joe Torre,
Mike Piazza, Derek Jeter, Lennox Lewis, Mike Tyson, Brett Favre, etc.
I became the PR representative for The V Foundation for Cancer Research when I
was 22 and it was 2 of the most amazing years for me. In a nutshell, The V
Foundation (www.jimmyv.org) was begun and named after Jim Valvano, the late
legendary basketball coach of NC State University who was diagnosed with cancer
in 1993. Jimmy V's speech at the inaugural ESPY awards, where he was the
recipient of the Arthur Ashe's Award for Courage, was perhaps one of the most
inspirational speech's I have ever heard (I'll send it to you next time).
Regardless, the organization raises money and funds cancer researchers
throughout the country.
Throughout the years I've met some amazing people who have endured and recently,
my best friend just finished his radioactive treatment for thyroid cancer. He
just turned 25, was the picture of perfect health, and is perhaps the most
inspirational person I have ever met. His father passed away from cancer 3 years
ago so as you can imagine his diagnosis was a shock to everyone. Nevertheless,
he has been so amazing about his treatments that I am in awe of him - his
strength and perseverance is incredible.
I wish there were some pearls of wisdom I could impart on you based on my
experiences but, in all honesty, I don't have any. I think that this site is
amazing and I hope that you get back what people, like me, receive from reading
your story. Since I am not a scientists or doctor and can't find a cure for your
disease - I would love to help out in anyway I can and would be happy to hook
you up with some Rangers tickets if you are in New York City during the upcoming
hockey season.
Before I get back to work I was wondering what your favorite teams are, who you
admire in terms of players, etc. So - here's wishing you a refuah shelamah! Feel
better and keep on being the superstar that you obviously are!
All the best,
Shira K., NYC
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