Pittsburgh, PA – Like many other parents and parents-to-be, Chaya and Judah Cowen had a list of names prepared for when their little bundle of joy arrived.They took a detour, however, when they choose to name their fifth child, a baby girl, born May 3, Noa Lea.
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She’s named after Lori Gilbert-Kaye, whose Hebrew name was Leah, and who was murdered on April 27, the last day of Passover, by a gunman who entered the Chabad of Poway and targeted its congregants.
“Before I knew her name, I thought that if we have a girl it would be an honor to name her after Lori,” said Judah Cowen. “Everything, I was reading about her—her dedication to her community and various organizations, her loyalty to friends and caring for other people, and her love for Israel—it just seemed like she was an extraordinary lady, just an amazing, tremendous human being … I felt connected to her even though I never met her or heard of her before. It just felt right that we name our daughter after her a true hero.”
Judah is a real mentch. Stalwart of the community, and in many ways personifies all the wonderful things we hear about Lori. May little Leah grow up to be just like him!