“My father is Jewish, my mother is Jewish, I am Jewish.”
These were among the last words of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl, murdered by terrorists. “I am Jewish” was more than just an affirmation of a simple fact. “I am Jewish” meant “My life has meaning and nothing you do will strip that away from me. Even if my life ends now, I have served a purpose.”
The parents of Daniel Pearl, Mr. & Mrs. Judea Pearl, when working on a book of essays inspired by Daniel’s last words, commissioned over 300 prominent Jews to reflect on what the phrase “I am Jewish” meant to them.
I think it is a question all of us could ask ourselves. What profound belief gives your life meaning? Years ago, while playing a parlour game, we were all asked to describe ourselves. My friend quickly answered “I am Catholic”. When I asked her why she answered in that way, she said that everything she had or was, stemmed from her Catholic faith. I have always heard that Joan of Arc’s last words were “Vive la France”!
I think Daniel Pearl’s very important legacy was to serve a purpose in life. Rest in peace Daniel Pearl.
Pachofa-Unfinished 
I think, but am unsure, of putting words in a certain order so that people reading them can get some enjoyment out of the words. Words don’t take up a lot of space, so if you don’t like them, just sweep them up in a corner or put them in the garden as mulch.
Thank you.
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Don’t worry about it! It’s the same thing for all of us. I’ll be looking forward to your words.
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I think I will be enjoying them all!
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You are very kind. I used to paint and etch but…a long story. Here are some more words;
Space and the lack of storing all my paintings forced me into downsizing and decided I would branch off in putting words in a certain order. My first word, if I remember correctly, was ‘exorbitant’ which I liked and followed this up quickly with another one called ‘exhortation’. Both have a nice ring to it, don’t you think, almost musical? It’s the vowels each time followed by the consonants, that does the trick. I am not sure of many words yet, and possibly, that’s the best way to be when writing. Words are inter-changeable and can also be deleted.
Thank you for reading my words.
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Lack of storage is common problem with artists. I am both sculptor and painter, so I do sympathize with you! Ah! But words and music. Another world althogether.
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Daniel Pearl’s father is human, his mother is human, he was human.
What happened to him is a horrific record of inhumanity.
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Richard Feynman refused to be part of groups that identified themselves by some -ish, -ism, some excluding parameter(s). He preferred to be regarded as one of humankind, capable of being selfless and selfish, loving and disdaining, etc., …
Daniel Pearl and Feynman are Jewish. More significant, they were (are) humans of which William Faulkner speaks when he calls attention to those who model the best of huan behaviors.
— Leroy Sprinz
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My ignorance knows no bounds! I have to admit I did not know who Richard Feynman was. What an incredible resume! merous We have visited Los Alamos a number of times, but came away with Oppenheimer’s printed on my brain.
A Jewish friend of mine once at a Bat Mitvah , observed correctly that the Jews and the Chinese value education and scholarship. Certainly something evident by today’s Jewish kids as well as Chinese students.
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