Father thanks terror attack for saving his life -

Everyone experiences difficulties, large and small, and it’s hard when you’re feeling upset or frustrated to believe that there might be some kernel of good, let alone to to believe that the entire situation was orchestrated for your ultimate benefit.

Sometimes a person gets a clear glimpse of the good behind the bad, and it brings with it a powerful awareness and gratitude.

Daniel Cohen, a 31 year old father of five was waiting for his bus in Israel last week when suddenly he was attacked by a terrorist. He describes what happened: “He attacked me and choked me. I felt my neck about to break. He took out a knife and tried to behead me, and then he tried for my throat. But I turned my head, and he got me in my jaw. He threw me to the floor and stabbed me along my left side, in the chest, shoulder, and stomach.”

After this attack, Cohen was left in serious condition. He was taken to a hospital where he underwent a four hour surgery.

Violently attacked and stabbed in the face, chest, shoulder and stomach. Can we agree no one would call this a good experience?

And then the discovery during his surgery – a tumor in his large intestine that Cohen hadn’t known was there. The surgeons were able to remove the tumor during the surgery while successfully addressing his other injuries.

Cohen said, “Lately I had felt some pains in that area, but I didn’t have time to deal with it. The attack simply saved my life.” He adds, “The Creator brought me this operation in order to save my life, and in addition, the attack itself was miraculous in that I was not hurt in any vital organs. I have received my life as a present from all directions.”

Avivah

4 thoughts on “Father thanks terror attack for saving his life”

It is a complete brocha the tumor was discovered through the suffering. A miracle not to be devalued by Hashem especially at the hands of a terrorist. However, we as Jews can not operate with our own hands in this capacity. Such as facilitating G-ds work or our own “work” which might have a negative impact before a positive outcome can occur. I do not believe that is who we build people or the Klal who are suffering on a daily basis through illness, parnassah, education, child rearing, etc . I do get the concept of everything G-d does is for our our own personal miracles and growth but may those instances be only revealed in the most direct, real and healthy way for all of Klal Yisrael

Avivah says:

November 13, 2015 at 1:37 pm

I’m not clear on what you’re saying, Miri. Do you mean that someone in a helping or advisory position shouldn’t justify hurting someone by telling them it will be good in the end?

In my own work with families causing someone pain is the last thing I want to do. And I wouldn’t tell someone going through something difficult he should be happy about it.

I offer this story because I’ve often shared my belief that everything that happens is for our good, even when it doesn’t seem like it. This perspective has been of enormous good to me through extremely difficult trials, at times when I felt I had almost nothing else to give me hope or to hold on to.

I found it encouraging to read of someone who experienced something very bleak in his own life and was able to not long afterward see an obvious gift in the experience.

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