Ari Halberstam Remembered in Australia

A special Melaveh Malkah and Limud Mishnayos was held this past motzai shabbos in Melbourne, Australia to mark the Yartzeit of Hatomim Hakodosh Ari Halberstam HY”D.

The event took place at the home of Ari’ sister , Sara Gutnick (nee Halberstam) and was attended by family and friends of Ari. Everyone present had a special connection to Ari, including his sister, brother-in-law, uncle, cousins, former friends and teachers, all who reside in Melbourne.

After completing the mishnayos learning, Rabbi Mordechai Gutnick made a siyum and said kaddish. Ari’s sister, Sara Gutnick, spoke about “Vehachai Yitain El Libo”, reminding all those who knew Ari to remain inspired by his sincere and balanced character of being an upbeat friend and athlete who was strongly mekushar to the Rebbe and the Rebbe’s Horaos. She reflected on how Ari was a true Tomim and Oved, who never acknowledged another presence while davening and who died with his Tefillin unraveled in his lap.

Cousin R’ Yisroel Rosenfeld shared an inspiring story of the Rebbe that mirrored a famous Baal Shem Tov story and R’ Mendy Rimler, who was Ari’s former learning counselor in CGI New York, reminisced about how he once found Ari learning Rambam in a corner on his own when no one was around.

May Ari be a ‘gutter beter’ for all of us, and may we be reunited with him bimhera biyamenu.