Los Angeles, CA – In an article featured in Tablet Magazine (http://bit.ly/VFRaZ4), Judea Pearl, the father of slain journalist Daniel Pearl, spoke out for the first time about it how it felt to have former Mayor Ed Koch memorialize his son’s final declaration, “My father is Jewish, my mother is Jewish, I am Jewish” on Koch’s tombstone. He also addressed the eerie coincidence of Koch’s passing on the same day Daniel Pearl was slaughtered in 2002 by Islamic terrorists.
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“The fact that Koch has now died on the same day as our son seems to be yad hashgacha, the hand of providence at work,” Pearl said. “If I were a believer, I would say: How could anyone doubt God’s existence? Instead, I am struck by what a strange, surreal coincidence this is.”
Koch first became acquainted with the Pearl family in 2004 when Judea and his wife were working on publishing a book of essays written by prominent Jews reflecting on the phrase, “I am Jewish.” Koch was among the 300 Jews who were asked to share what being Jewish meant to them. But instead of explaining why his Jewish identity was important to him, Koch submitted an essay denouncing terrorists and espousing his views on how terrorists should be dealt with. The Pearl family asked Koch to revise his essay in keeping with the Jewish theme. Koch refused. “That’s how I feel,” Koch said. “And I can’t change it.”
Judea Pearl said when he first learned that Koch had selected Daniel’s final words for inclusion on his headstone, he was extremely moved and called Koch to thank him. “This is how I feel,” Koch said in response. “And this is how I want to be remembered.”
“If I were a believer”?? After this “coincidence” he should do Teshuva and become one. Hashem is giving him an opportunity that he is missing and will be reminded of in the Olam Haemes when he asks Hashem “why didnt you give me a sign”?
When there is video proof of your child’s head being cut off by Gds fellow creations, you have experienced enough gehinom in this world that Gd might take it easy on you in the next.
The Divrei Chaim says that by definition, the word coincidence really means an event that nature/science cannot explain.
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It is a term manufactured to deny god in his face.
Any honest GOY would admit that THIS COINCIDENCE SCREAMS “G_D Almighty is in charge!”
Who needs a miracle to accept the Torah? It stands on its own merits.
Perhaps this was Koch’s attempt at teshuva ,perhaps by his tomb stone some my re look at there Jewish roots. Perhaps in the end he was koneh olam haba. just perhaps
i can’t understand how any one of us could fel anything for mr pearl other then complete and total rachmanus. give the guy a break for G-d’s sake.
The sentiments expressed in many of the above comments bespeak a lack of empathy, a lack of compassion, and embarrassingly, an abundance of ignorance. How anyone could call Mr. Pearl names or in any way defame him or even judge him points to a basic “achzaryus” – cruelty – which is, ironically NOT JEWISH. (“Bayshanim, RACHMANIM…..anyone?)
So in missing the whole point of the article, some commenters declare themselves the only authorities on who or what is authentically Jewish. Koch and Pearl proudly identify themselves as Jewish, even as they grapple with ideas of G-d (Yisra-el = struggle with G-d).
These comments have nothing to do with Koch or Pearl, and everything to do with the sad state of these commenters’ minds.
Who are we to judge, especially those like Judea Pearl? How many of us have list a child? How many to murders? How many by anti-Semites? How many practically in front of their eyes (he was able to see it)? Since this is not the 1940’s I’m sure not many. So, who are we to judge? According to the Torah, you are not allowed to kill yourself, but after watching 7 sons being murdered that’s exactly what Chana does & yet we learn she went to Gan Eden & we’re taught from this not to judge others.