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Korban
The Sacrifice of Liana
A statement from the author:
"I call my book Korban (The Sacrifice) because Liana’s life and death were a sacrifice."
Whenever I read the famous quote from the Torah, "Man is born with his free will," I used to say to myself, "Nobody chooses to be in a bad situation. When did I use my free will to ask for a drunk driving accident?" When I thought that in just a few minutes we would have been in our home simply living our lives, I asked myself, "Where is my free will?"
But looking back, I understand now that our free will starts with the chaos. When things do not go well, we have the free will to choose to close ourselves off from others and remain in our sorrow, or to go forward with open arms.
RoseMary H. Cohen received her doctorate degree in Sociology from the Sorbonne in Paris. She married and lived in France with her husband and four children before moving to Los Angeles in 1984.
Dr. Cohen has conducted an international art business since 1985. Although her articles have been published in French and English in several magazines, this is her first book.
In praise of Korban, The Sacrifice of Liana
So many lessons have been attributed to Liana, including that extraordinary lesson in which the author writes, "Liana has taught me that finally death is not our biggest enemy but a close friend of all humans. We have become a friend of death so that we can cherish life and appreciate all that we have and not cry for what we do not have." This happens to be the lesson I have been trying to teach all these years, but I have never done it as well.
This book says that Liana’s sacrifice taught us the often undiscovered truths and values of life and death. It fairly shouts that her sacrifice was tragic. It would have been better if it had never happened, but it uncovered many hidden lessons. This book will inspire the reader and can spread those lessons far and wide.
Rabbi Jacob Pressman
Rabbi Emeritus, Beverly Hills, California
Having recently experienced an immeasurable personal loss, I found Korban a comforting and reassuring book. This experience opened up my belief possibilities beyond what I had previously felt and thought.
One of the most compelling and sensitive works I have ever read. It will affect many lives in a positive way!
George Linder
Film Producer, Hollywood, California
We miss our loved ones when they pass away, but death isn’t the end. Regardless of whether a person saw life in all its aspects or left this life weighed down with cravings and ignorance, he doesn’t simply disappear. If one has managed to realize all about life and combine right thoughts with right actions, upon leaving this world, he becomes One with the Supreme Essence of life.
From the Buddhist scriptures
Reverend Ryosho Kokuzo
Buddhist Minister, Long Beach, California
In this true story, Korban, the mother took courage, which without any doubt, had to be given by God. For only those who have a very strong faith in God can come through this chaotic situation with enough sanity to write about it. And, with the ability to do everything within her power to be forgiving toward the perpetrator.
Reverend Dr. Milton Marshall, Jr.
The Union Missionary Baptist Church, Los Angeles, California
Throughout it all, there was RoseMary, comforting as much as she was being comforted, helping her family members heal physically, much as they were helping each other to heal emotionally, and constantly reassuring us and herself that Liana had been taken by God to a place of great peace and blessing. She was teaching theology even as she was working out her own spiritual issues.
All this took place nearly seven years ago, and much has transpired in the interim. The entire experience had such a profound impact on RoseMary that it remained like a fire burning in her soul. Ultimately she felt compelled to write a book, and so she did. [...] I recommend it as an inspirational account of how people confront the dark chaos of tragedy and climb up toward the light, realizing that if they do not reach for the light, the chaos will overwhelm them. It is a story of amazing faith in the face of doubts that eat away at the soul-faith in God, faith in people and faith in oneself. It is a book that has lessons that we all need to learn.
Rabbi Joel Rembaum
Temple Beth Am, Los Angeles, California
In her first book, Cohen seeks answers from her readers and herself as she chronicles her family's healing process in the aftermath of tragedy.
Drawing strength from the teachings of the Torah, Cohen writes about remaining strong in the face of such tragedy. Her strength came not only from within but from a deeply embedded faith that life is dependent on three forces: hope, love, and faith. From faith she was able to use love to give her family members back a sense of hope amidst the suffering.
Her beliefs and strength are what has allowed her family, and even friends, to come to terms with their grief and heal the wounds of old hurts. The message of hope she brings is universal.
"I thought I would read the book and be utterly depressed," said Pegah H, [...] a friend of the family who lost her father to coronary failure. "But it gave me hope and made me feel that there was a possibility that I would see my father again. Anyone who has ever lost someone close would benefit from reading this book."
Katrina Dean
Los Angeles Times, California
Preface
This is the true story of the tragic sacrifice of my eighteen-year-old daughter, Liana.
I call my book Korban (The Sacrifice) because her life and death were a sacrifice.
Liana’s tragic fate reminded me of a legend I had read a long time ago, a legend that took place in an ancient civilization. Every year, the people had to sacrifice a young maiden, the purest and most beautiful girl in their community, in order to obtain the favor of their gods for a prosperous year. The people dressed the young girl in a white gown, perfumed her and put flowers in her hair. Then, after ceremonial prayers before a stone god, they threw her alive into a blazing fire amidst songs and cheers. One amazing aspect of this legend is that neither the maiden nor her family ever cried out or complained during these ceremonies.
I found a similarity between this maiden and my daughter. Subconsciously, we had prepared Liana all day long on August 28, 1992. We took her to a beauty parlor for the first time, she was wearing a pretty dress and the earrings her brother had given to her for her eighteenth birthday.
My husband and I had given Liana the best education possible. We had loved her and cared for her. We taught her the love of God, and she knew that this life was just a passage toward a higher purpose.
All of my family unknowingly had participated in offering this Korban. I had a strong feeling that Liana also had offered herself and had accepted her fate voluntarily. I could see her as the pretty maiden being thrown in the fire with no protest and no outcry, with absolute calm and acceptance. An innocent Korban of our society and its citizens who do not respect the rights of others.