New York – One of the seven hakafah dances around the synagogue this year will dedicated in memory of slain Jewish Wall Street Journal journalist Daniel Pearl.
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The initiative, spearheaded by Pearl’s father Prof. Judea (Yehudah) Pearl, seeks to unite thousands of Jews worldwide through song.
Daniel Pearl’s birthday was on Simchas Torah. He would have turned 46 this year.
In the aftermath of Daniel’s gruesome murder in February of 2002—a video released by Al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorists shows Pearl being decapitated—Prof. Pearl created the Daniel Pearl World Music Days, which has since united thousands of musicians of all faiths and countries.
The dedicated-hakafah initiative now brings the same unity-through-music theme to the Jewish community.
Over 250 Chabad shuls worldwide have already declared their participation.
Prof. Pearl emphasizes the theme of “Vesamachta Bechagecha,” a popular traditional Torah verse meaning “You shall rejoice on your festival.” “ ‘Vesamachta’ is a mitzvah, not a suggestion,” he explains in an exclusive phone conversation with VIN News.
“Knowing that thousands of Jews, particularly youngsters, will be singing about being happy gives our family tremendous chizuk [strength—Ed.],” Pearl says. Prof. Pearl also expresses his gratitude “that all Jews, no matter what affiliation, show achdus [unity—Ed.] to prove that we are a resilient nation—no matter how much you try to bring us down, we prevail. The hakafah will be a great zechus [merit] for Daniel, l’ilui nishmato [to raise up his soul].”
The project welcomes the participation of the entire Jewish community.
The idea for the dedicated hakafah, besides occurring on Pearl’s birthday, was based on the concept of Kiddush Hashem, explains Rabbi Ephraim Mintz of the Jewish Learning Institute, a Chabad-affiliated international program, who is in touch with Dr. Pearl on this initiative.
Pearl’s last words included the now-famous statement, “my father’s Jewish, my mother’s Jewish, I’m Jewish.”
Each hakofoh should be dedicated to various kadoshim including those killed last year in Mumbai who may not have the yichus of a well known journalist but who are no less significant b’anai hashem.
Daniel Pearl’s Hy’d final statement will remain a constant inspiration for me. All the more so coming from a Jew with a weak religious background and/or observance.
What can I say I am inspiresd
What a special Neshama, to die “al kiddush hashem mamesh” his neshama should have an alyah and he should be meilitz yoisher to HKBH. To end this terrible golus, when we will all be reunited with all our loved ones, and the kedoishem of all time.
Very inspiring
Daniel pearl hayad was murdered al kiddush hashem no more no less than any kedoishim sice mattan torah. Gist nit kain kalte vasser af a kodoish v’tahoir beyumeinu, since the holocaust there has not been a bigger martyr than danel pearl. He is the epitome of the av harachamim prayer
Was his birthday Simchas Torah in Israel? If so, it would have been Shemini Atzeres in chutz la’aretz.
I run a chabad house in —- and was told his b-day is shmini atzeres. We dedicated a hakofo to him on Friday night.