This morning I woke up and found out that a friend of mine was tragically killed. Ari Weiss was with his family vacationing when their small plane crashed in Costa Rica. Ari, 16, was killed along with his parents, Leslie and Mitchell Weiss and his sister Hannah, 19. Bruce and Irene Steinberg were also killed, along with their three sons, Matthew, William and Zachary.
I got the terrible news early in the morning in Jerusalem where I am studying in the Gesher program at Aish HaTorah. Ari and I both went to Camp Ramah Darom in Clayton, Georgia. My snapchat was flooded with messages from friends back home, everyone reeling in pain. All of my friends were posting about what a wonderful guy Ari is and how they will miss him dearly.
“Ari you were the one that cared, I miss you”
I sat staring at my phone, crying, and just couldn’t fathom how someone as young as Ari, who had so much to live for, could suddenly be gone. Why did this have to happen to him? Even though it was the middle of the night in the US, throughout the world we were all connecting through our waves of grief.
Ari and his sister Hannah
Being part of a community, we all feel a gaping hole with Ari’s death, even those who weren’t so close to him. I remember how Ari always cared for the people around him. I remember how we were playing a game of basketball and all the sudden someone got hurt. Everyone asked if the kid was okay but Ari was the one who took the time and care to walk him off the court. And then Ari actually left the game so he could sit with this kid and just be there for him so that he wouldn't have to be alone. While all of us went back to playing basketball, Ari chose to get out of himself and help a person in need.
And that wasn’t just a one-time occurrence. Ari was always going out of his way to help others and try to make people smile. Counselors come to camp hoping to impact campers in a positive way, but Ari did the opposite – he was an amazing camper who impacted the counsellors with his positive energy and zest for life. He affected his friends and family the same way, bringing happiness into people's lives.
As our community is coming together in grief, I’m thinking how I can somehow honor Ari and the something special he brought into so many people’s lives. I want to strive to be the type of guy Ari was. I want to be the guy who would leave a basketball game just to be there for someone. I want to be the guy who makes people smile. The guy who makes people feel like they're a part of something.
In honor of Ari, let’s all try to go out of our way to do something to make a person’s day better, to try inject more happiness in someone’s life. This way we can channel some of the unbearable pain of losing Ari into actions that bring light into the world, like Ari who was lighting up the world.
(15) Sylvia Rodriguez, July 4, 2019 9:34 PM
I'm a fan
I first heard about Ari when he came up on my spotify weekly discovery. i had fallen in love with his song only girl and needed to hear more of him. And upon googling him i only found tragedy. I still cant wrap my head around how something like this could happen to someone so young and full of love and potential. Rest in Peace Ari.
(14) Lisa Titen, January 5, 2018 11:41 PM
Beautiful words....yes we all need to reach out and make people smile. RIP to Ari and his family?❤️
(13) Anonymous, January 3, 2018 5:39 AM
My heart goes out to the Weiss and Steinberg families. ברוך דייו אמת . So many tragedies lately where families are taken from this world. Heartbreaking. May G-d comfort both families and we should only have simachot.
(12) Jay, January 3, 2018 1:41 AM
Beautiful
Well said.
(11) Gail Brena, January 2, 2018 10:41 PM
overwhelming sadness for such a beautful jewish family.
my heart and prayers are with all processing this tradegy.
(10) Anonymous, January 2, 2018 8:09 PM
May their memories be a Blessing.
My heart sank when i heard the news and though i did not know these families may strength,comfort and prayers be a source of light during this difficult time.
(9) Ann, January 2, 2018 5:16 PM
Your sentiment for your friend was very meaningful. I did not know either family but they touched me very much two beautiful families enjoying their time together may they Rest In Peace.
(8) Anonymous, January 2, 2018 5:10 PM
baruch dayan haemet
thank you for sharing your memories. It might be nice to compile a list of stories/pictures and present it to the grandparents/aunts/uncles/cousins who will be mourning. It also might help you to deal with the pain when you write.
(7) Jeannie, January 2, 2018 4:47 PM
Ari
Sorry for the loss. I’ll be also praying and make a light shine today
(6) Anonymous, January 2, 2018 4:19 PM
Tragedy
The twin tragedies of the Steinberg and Weiss families is just too difficult to comprehend. One would imagine that these two families had everything to live for and that they truly enjoyed their lives and families. In one fell swoop, it was all gone. This, during a vacation that was most probably planned months in advance. The plane trip was just another side trip that they took to tour and discover the beautiful mountains in Costa Rica. The families should not have gained notoriety through this. I would have been perfectly happy not to know of them, and for them to have continued their lives as they were. Now I know who they are through newspaper and news reports. I can't get them off my mind. We don't know why? We never will. But what message do these awful tragedies send us. So many, ones that are all cliches but we all know but bear repeating, especially to myself. Life is short and precious. No matter how rich one is, how powerful, one is not in control, it can all be taken away in a second. Never take life for granted. Show gratitude even if things are not perfect. If only we would all learn this, and more than that remember it. May their memories be a blessing ברוך דייו האמת
(5) Michael Elzufon, January 2, 2018 3:33 PM
saddened for all
a very sad story with significant impact on the communities and lives which these families are a part of. thoughts and strength to those close to them. am sorry to see this devastating accident.
(4) Esther G. Pollak, January 2, 2018 3:08 PM
Re. Ari Wess and the other tragic losses of Costa Rica
Hi, there is almost nothing less painful than knowing someone young as you all did that passed away. Remember, G-d takes the young who never sinned because he already completed his tafkid in the world.
In his memory, I would do something special. All of you can organize to do some charitable act in his memory. Maybe collect money to give to one of the Chayalim Funds that they have out there like United and do it in his memory or if someone can organize a fund and you do a gamach in his memory like collecting barely used clothing and giving it to needy people in his memory. Do something that you think he would have done. It will help you feel a lot better and be proactive. Hamakom yinacheim osanu mikul availei Tzion Yerushalayim. You personally in Israel can pray in the kotel for the sick. And pray for his memory for the elevation of his Neshama. It will help you personally feel a bit better. My condolences. Esther G. Pollak
(3) Melissa, January 2, 2018 3:07 PM
Beautiful sentiment in honor of Ari.
You have greatly honored your friend Ari and his family in this beautiful sentiment. Thank you for sharing. I am deeply touched and inspired to make sure my intentions are set for serving others in ways that offer comfort and bring happiness. Thank you again! G-d bless?
(2) Nathalie cohen, January 2, 2018 2:44 PM
All my condolienses to the friends and Famelly
(1) Joseph Apicella, January 2, 2018 2:09 PM
Tragedies like this unite us all
May his memory be a blessing to you. Let us all do a good deed now. We can never be sure of tomorrow.