Remembering September 11

September 11, 2001.

Is there anyone who lived through that day who does not remember where they were on 9/11?

We were living in the Washington, DC, area. The Pentagon was hit. Friends were inside. Who can forget the Twin Towers going down?  A shocked world watched on television as the scene was played over and over.

My son was on a Lufthansa flight scheduled to land at Dulles Airport at 1:30 pm on September 11, 2001. After spending a week in Gander, Newfoundland, he finally made it home for Rosh Hashana, but that is a story for another time.

In 2009, the Blank Family dedicated a special memorial in the hills of Jerusalem, Israel, as a “reminder of shared loss and a call for peace among nations.”

Each year, an US-Israel joint memorial commemoration is held on September 11th.  However, with the second day of Rosh Hashana falling on 9/11, this year the event was held on the Thursday before.

Israeli memorial for victims of September 11

The memorial, located in a JNF-KKL park in the hills of Jerusalem, is the only one outside the United States that lists all the names of victims.

Representatives of different groups are invited each year. This year Sar-El, Muss High School, and Nefesh BeNefesh were among the guests who came on special buses, and passed through layers of special security.

 

Jerusalem 9/11 memorial honor guard

Here the US Honor Guard readies its flags to march in and begin the memorial program.

JNF-KKL memorial outside Jerusalem Israel for victims of 9/11

The Honor Guard and all guests stood for the the US anthem. A special cover was constructed to shield the gathering from the midday sun. This year was not too hot, but plenty of water was provided nonetheless.

View of US and Israeli flags at 9/11 memorial in Jerusalem

From the memorial you can see across Route One to the main Jerusalem cemetery, and in the distance, the  Hadassah Hospital complex in Ein Karem is visible.

US flag shaped as a flame for Israeli September 11 memorial

The main monument depicts an US flag in shape of a flame. The impressive thirty-foot-high bronze sculpture was created by Israeli artist Eliezer Weishoff and landscape architect Yechiel Cohen.

The annual program began with the Kaddish, the prayer recited for the departed, recited by a close relative of a victim, on behalf of all those who fell.

Israeli US memorial for victims of September 11

MK Nachman Shai spoke representing the Israeli government.

Other speakers included diplomatic representatives, JNF-KKL leaders, and family members of victims.

US Ambassador David Friedman at September 11 commemoration in Jerusalem

Ambassador David Friedman was presented with a framed photo of the US flag taken in front of the destroyed NYC building by a witness.

Piece from Twin Towers in monument to victims of September 11

Inside the memorial, partially concealed behind the podium, is a piece of metal salvaged from the site of the destroyed towers.

Military and Fire wreathes for memorial ceremony Jerusalem, Israel

After the speeches. representatives of the military, fire and police assisted with the placing of memorial wreaths.

Amb. David and Tammy Friedman stand after placing a wreathe at Israel-US September 11 memorial

After placing a wreath, Ambassador and Tammy Friedman paused for a moment of silence.

Wreathes at base of September 11 memorial

At the end of the formal program, all the wreaths were placed at the base of the memorial.

United Airline pilots place flowers at memorial for victims of September 11

Flowers were available to place by the names of fallen. These United Airlines pilots stopped to reflect and remember.

Remembrance and Rosh Hashana were significant topics in Ambassador  Friedman’s remarks.

Jerusalem memorial to victims of September 11 flowers placed on names of murdered.

Remembering the victims.

View of fast rain bridge from park near September 11 memorial in hills of Jerusalem Israel

As the bus slowly traveled back up the winding narrow park road, the bridge for the new Jerusalem-Tel Aviv fast train towered overhead.

On the other side of the support pillars, the new Jerusalem highway winds around the mountainside.

People will be able to access the 9/11 memorial more easily in the future, as the park is currently being developed to be more family-friendly.

Wishing all a good new year.

Additional photos post on Facebook HERE

10 thoughts on “Remembering September 11

  • September 12, 2018 at 11:10 am
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    We take many of our American guests to this amazing site out of pride and memorial.
    Thanks for that coverage.
    G’mar Tov

    Reply
    • September 12, 2018 at 12:36 pm
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      Good to hear. So many people questioned where it was. So close, only on Sept 11 hard to get to visit.

      Reply
  • September 12, 2018 at 11:38 am
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    Have you seen the show “Come From Away”? It’s wonderful and you’d appreciate it even more since your son was stuck in Gander.

    Reply
    • September 12, 2018 at 12:39 pm
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      The play? I heard about it. I followed the Gander story for the whole week until knock on our door erev Yom Tov, as closely as anyone. I had every phone number of Chabniks from Canada to London. We were still getting calls up until Rosh Hashana started, so many did get stuck in Canada.

      Reply
  • September 12, 2018 at 12:22 pm
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    Thank you Sharon, for this most important photo essay. Kol Hakavod on your great work!

    Reply
    • September 12, 2018 at 12:39 pm
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      Pleasure. Thank you!

      Reply
  • September 12, 2018 at 12:25 pm
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    Thank you Sharon, for this most important photo essay. Kol Hakavod on your great work!!

    Reply
  • September 12, 2018 at 1:34 pm
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    I am now in the U.S. On September 3-Labor Day- we were in NYC and visited the 9/11 museum. Awesome and solemn. Shana tova and metucha.

    Reply
    • September 13, 2018 at 4:13 am
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      I have not been back to NYC in over 4 years. Have a good stay and safe trip back home. Wishing you a great year in continued good health.

      Reply
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