Long Island Community Establishes Library in Girl's Memory

Ever since Ariella Weiss, a dynamic three-year-old girl, tragically died in a fire at her Dix Hills, N.Y., home on July 2, friends and family have come together to create a unique memorial to her.

Led by Rabbi Yaakov and Zoey Saacks of the Lubavitch Chai Center of Dix Hills, community members rallied behind the grieving parents and Weiss' three brothers – paying for a rental home, providing food and clothes – almost immediately after the fire, which started from a lit candle in the child's bedroom and destroyed the house. Now, spurred on by an inspirational talk by grief counselor Moshe Borowski, the community was on hand for the unveiling of a library in Ariella's memory.

In the days following the tragedy, Borowski visited Robert and Annette Weiss as they sat shiva at the Saacks' home. Invited by the rabbi, the director of School & Synagogue Trauma and Resilience Training – known by its acronym, SSTART – spent hours with the family to help them along the grieving process.

At the Saacks' suggestion, the therapist returned, but this time to address the community in a talk titled "Helping Children Cope With Death: Psychological and Spiritual Insights on Bereavement."

In a down-to-earth style, Borowski provided valuable tips on bereavement and advice to parents trying to help their own children make sense of the loss of Ariella, who was a classmate to many at the Chai Center's school and summer camp.

"Moshe's talk was just what we were looking for: warm, interactive, practical and filled with Jewish insight," offered Yaakov Saacks.

Borowski focused on the importance of creating projects that perpetuate the deceased's memory and legacy, and stressed that the ultimate honor for the deceased is to create something that emulates a particular character trait or behavior.

After the talk, the Weiss family determined to create a library centered around a collection of Jewish and secular books on developing coping skills and inner strengths in the face of adversity. Called ROAR, an acronym for "Restoring Optimism and Resilience," the project enlisted the support of the Chai Center and SSTART.

Robert Weiss noted how the library is an appropriate memorial to his daughter.

"Ariella's nature was to constantly give," he said. "It's fitting that ROAR will provide people the opportunity to tap into their inner strengths. My family and I take great pride and comfort that through her legacy, Ariella continues to give and have an impact in this world."

"This dynamic child was an inspiration to her family, friends and neighbors," said Zoey Saacks. "She literally dragged people to shul and to Hebrew school. This library ensures that Ariella's legacy will continue to serve as a rousing call, a 'roaring lion' of sorts, for enhancing Jewish learning and practice."