22nd Tikkun Olam Award to Daniel Pearl & the Daniel Pearl Foundation

Dear Friends,

Daniel Pearl’s extraordinary life and work demonstrates the highest values of Tikkun Olam and we are grateful for the opportunity to recognize him and the Daniel Pearl Foundation as our 22^nd recipient. His legacy continually inspires us and is intertwined and embedded in our project.

CLICK HERE to see the award certificate and a video of President Obama signing the Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act in the Oval Office.

Daniel served as the South Asia Bureau Chief of the Wall Street Journal, when he was kidnapped and murdered by terrorists in Karachi, Pakistan, around February 1st, 2002.

A journalist, story-teller, bridge-builder, musician, and champion of humanity, Danny lived a life that knew no geographical boundaries, with a spirit that knew no prejudice. Through words and music, he communicated joy, humor, friendship and understanding in many parts of the world.  He gave voice to millions of voiceless people in the Balkans, the Middle East and South East Asia, and painted for millions of readers the human face behind the news.

His last words, “My father is Jewish, my mother is Jewish, I am Jewish,”  have come to symbolize the universal right of every individual to assert with pride his/her faith, heritage or identity. Daniel Pearl has since become a symbol for East-West dialogue, freedom of expression, interfaith harmony, and Jewish pride.

The Daniel Pearl Foundation, founded by Daniel’s family and friends in 2002, promotes the ideals that inspired his life and work.  The Foundation works domestically and internationally to promote cross-cultural dialogue and understanding, to counter cultural and religious intolerance, to cultivate responsible and balanced journalism, and to inspire unity and friendship through music. (www.danielpearl.org).

In the past 10 years, people of all faiths have commemorated Daniel birthday  of October  10,  in what has become the earth’s largest interfaith symphony a growing network of music concerts named “Harmony for Humanity” which in 2011 numbered more than 2000 performances in more than 80 countries, dedicated to religious harmony and the oneness of humanity.

On May 19, 2010, U.S. President Barak Obama signed the Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act which protects journalists around the world.

 Harriet and Bill