New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s 87-year-old father died overnight while he was visiting Israel — with an emotional politician leaving a note paying tribute to him at the Western Wall earlier Thursday.
“I pray for my father, who cherished his visit to this Holy Land, and who died during the night,” part of Hochul’s handwritten message read.
Hochul wore a dark suit to mourn John Courtney’s father, who died of a brain hemorrhage in Florida Wednesday night.
Courtney is an Irish Catholic who has visited Israel and encouraged her daughter to do the same.
Hochul arrived in Israel on Wednesday as a show of support for the country and its people following the deadly October 7 atrocity by Hamas terrorists.
Gov. Kathy Hochul mourned her father’s passing during her visit to the Western Wall in Jerusalem Thursday. Shlomi Amsalem Hochul wore all black to mourn John Courtney’s father. Shlomi Amsalem Hochul’s father, John Courtney (right), died of a brain hemorrhage in Florida overnight. She’s 87. @KathyHochul
After meeting with the families of hostages held in Gaza and with volunteers at the food pantry, the Democrats traveled to Jerusalem and spent the night there.
During his visit to the Western Wall, known as Judaism’s holiest site, a somber Hochul wrote a letter sending prayers for his father and for victims of the conflict raging in the Middle East.
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In keeping with tradition, Hochul slipped his letter into a crack in the ancient wall – the last remnant of the original retaining wall that surrounded the Second Temple built over 2,000 years ago.
“As I stand on this sacred site, I pray that the arc of the universe tilts toward justice, and may God continue to protect us and guide us to a peaceful and violence-free future,” the governor wrote.
Hochul slips his letter into a gap in the ancient wall according to tradition.
“I pray for the victims of the Hamas attack on Israel, their families and all the innocent civilians lost as a result,” the note continued. “I pray for my father, who cherished his visit to this Holy Land, and who died in the night.”
After his visit to the Western Wall, Hochul, who is Catholic, made an unscheduled stop at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher — one of the holiest sites in Christianity — over the objections of his security forces.
The governor walked to the site, where Jesus is believed to have been crucified, buried and resurrected.
Courtney is an Irish Catholic who has visited Israel.@KathyHochul
Inside, Hochul slips into the dark temple that sits over the empty stone tomb of Christ, kneels and prays.
Later, the governor visited Shaare Tzedek — a hospital in Jerusalem that treats people injured in Hamas attacks. After meeting with the staff, Hochul visited some of the wounded Israelis.
Through a translator, a 21-year-old soldier told Hochul how he rushed out of his military base to save civilians and evacuate the wounded.
He was shot in the left leg during a gun battle with two Hamas fighters who ambushed him as he searched for survivors at the site of the deadly Supernova music festival.
The governor visited with wounded soldiers and their families. Kathy Hochul/X Hochul praised Israel’s “strong spirit” and said they have “the right to defend themselves, period.” Kathy Hochul/X
“You are strong and the people you save may not know who you are, but I will know you save people in their time of need,” Hochul said, holding her hand.
The governor then visited a team of volunteer first responders, before driving to Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s residence in Jerusalem for a meeting closed to the press.
Later, he addressed the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations at the Waldorf Astoria.
In his speech, Hochul praised Israel’s resilience and “strong spirit” — and said they “have the right to defend themselves, period.”
“Because if you don’t stop the invaders, if you don’t push back the forces of evil, then they will continue to rise,” Hochul added.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
