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Jerusalem Remembering September 11 and October 7 – Planning for the Future

Sharon A

Does anyone over kindergarten age on September 11, 2001, not remember where they were?

I was taking a walk in the Washington, DC, area that morning.

The sky was so blue.

The weather was unusually perfect.

Each year since 2009, a commemoration is held in Jerusalem, Israel, to remember those murdered on 9/11. It is the only memorial outside the US with the names of all those who lost their lives to terror.

In the monument, there is a piece from the Twin Towers that was destroyed that horrible morning.

The commemoration is sponsored by the Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF), Jewish National Fund-USA (JNF-USA), and the Embassy of the United States of America in Israel. It is held at the site of the 30-foot-high bronze sculpture created by Israeli artist Eliezer Weishoff.

This year it was held on the evening of September 11, 2024.

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

The flame design of the US flag looked different than in past years (see Remembering September 11, 2018) when the program began at midday with a tent-like covering to protect participants from the sun.

This year had yellow ribbons and references to October 7 and the continuing war and hostages in Gaza.

International fire fighters, police and military came in uniform.

The ceremony began with standing the presentation of flags by the Marine honor guard and the singing of the Star-Spangled Banner.

US Ambassador Jack Lew spoke with David Borowich Yaari and Hillel Fuld before the program began.

Hillel Fuld took a selfie with an IDF lone soldier whose father was killed on 9/11 before she was born.

Her father’s name is one of the almost 3,000 listed along the memorial wall.

Each year the program ends with memorial wreaths placed by honored guests.

To begin the week, the Israel Defence and Security Forum (IDSF) and the Danube Institute of Budapest sponsored a conference, “The October Effect- Strategic Implications for Israel and Europe in the Middle East War” at the Menachem Begin Heritage Center in Jerusalem, Israel.

The morning panel moderated by Jamie Geller discussed the tidal wave of antisemitism engulfing the West. Fleur Hassan Nahoum, Israel Special Envoy for Trade and Innovation, Laszlo Bernat Vespremy, Historian Jeff Ballabon, Senior Counsel for International and Government Affairs at the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), and MP Michael Freilich, Belgium Chamber of Representatives participated.

“We knew we had problems since Durban in 2001” when the delegitimization of Israel began, was the opening of the remarks of Brig. General (Res) Yossi Kuperwasser the Director of Research at IDSF.

It was a long day with information and international speakers.

The closing panel discussed the Russia-China-Iran Axis and the US. Kristof Verese, International Director of the Danube Institute moderated a fascinating but not encouraging discussion with Or Yissachar, Vice-President IDSF, Monika Palotai, Religious Freedom Institute, and Robert C, Castel, Hungarian Israeli Security Policy expert.  The lack of leadership from the US has led to a shift in world alliances.

However, the last two speakers offered some optimism to close out the day.

Janos Lastofka, Head of the Department for Middle East and North Africa and former Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Hungary spoke of Hungarian citizen support as Israel was attacked brutally.

Also, MEP Tomas Zdechovsky, a Czech politician with 5 years in the EU Parliament, stated that his country was pro-Israel.  His warning was to beware of cyber attacks from Iran. 

For those who want more, here is a site to check.

Not to be forgotten -A War on Two Fronts? The Hezbollah Menace.  Lieutenant Colonel (Res) Sarit Zehavi, Chair of the ALMA Center for Research in the north contributed. She is the expert who lives in the north.

The Michael Levin Base held its annual gala fund raiser at the Kahn Theater to a sold-out crowd.

It’s a Jewish function, so there was food after speeches and awards in support of lone soldiers.

Around Israel, as at Ohel Nechama Synagogue in Jerusalem, fairs have been set up to support businesses adversely affected by the October 7 War.

But, also in Jerusalem, while remembering the war and hostages –

New signs for the 2024 Israel Festival and Design Week are posted along Jerusalem streets.

A new program for young adults “Keeping on Track” has the first session focused on gleaning insight and learning from our past on September 18. The second session looks forward, to “helping you plan your future with tools that are both tangible and meaningful” the next night at “HaMiffal” Center.

The workshop, which will be in English, is intended for young adults aged 18-40.

Road work on Jerusalem streets continues in many locations with more foreign workers arriving.

New buildings are rising as this one on the Givat Ram Campus.

The Jerusalem Roof Top Festival is expanding to many new locations, too many to include now.

Meanwhile, sadly the military cemeteries are expanding in too many locations.

The IDF has many units and branches. One special program supports soldiers with diverse issues. At the 9/11 commemoration, a special choir performed “Wind Beneath my Wings.”

The lighting on the monument as the program came to a close.

May good and light overcome the darkness for a brighter future for all.

Jerusalem Streets Emotional Roller Coaster of Prayer and Unity

Sharon A

Another week of rollercoaster emotions and war on the Jerusalem streets.

Sunday morning September 1, 2024, was the first day of school after long summer break.

You may have seen photos of protesters that the media loves to share.

But did you also see the tens of thousands of people each night after midnight for Selihot? The Sephardi tradition is to start late-night prayers from Rosh Chodesh Elul.

You can see how many people came to the Kotel, the Western Wall.

At night, the Prime Minister took to English social media to show a map of Israel in the Middle East.

As the night before in a Hebrew version, he highlighted the Gaza Strip and Philadelphi Corridor.

While Sunday morning was the first day of school, the usual excitement and photos were overshadowed by the dreadful news of the murder of six Israeli hostages in Gaza by Hamas terrorists.

Then on Monday afternoon, tens of thousands lined the Jerusalem streets with Israeli flags.

Flags large and small, on both sides of the road, along the route,

arriving from afar to line the way,

as the funeral procession for Hersh Goldberg-Polin went to Har Hamenuhot Cemetery.

Red shirts of his favorite sports team, many with his profile were seen along the way and at the cemetery.

Oh, what a contrast to the red flowers and bridal photoshoot minutes away.

Three brides dressed in white with families and photographers were in the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens.

Going for some quiet beauty in nature, and seeing wedding parties was a bonus on a dark day.

At night, the signs seliha asked for forgiveness for the hostages that were not brought back alive.

Interesting timing, I noticed also a poster for Avraham “Avera” Mengistu an Ethiopian-born Israeli crossed into Gaza on September 7, 2014. Ten years a hostage in Gaza!

With the start of Elul and the Sephardi Selihot, the Kesher Yehudi organization held an opening event.

Sivan Rahav Meir was on hand to support families of hostages still in Gaza.

Musicians Akiva and Yonatan Razel performed for the event before proceeding to the Kotel for selihot.

Rabbanit Yaffa Deri was also there to inspire and encourage the participants.

On Wednesday I took some time off the Jerusalem streets with the constant construction and noise and went south. The old Shmita signs are still up on some fields.

However, this pile of dried hay was interestingly piled up.

It was a quiet day when we were in Sderot with its decorated shelters, but in the north, there were 100 missiles/rockets at the same time. Without shelters, tens of thousands of Israelis are still forced from their homes and schools since October 8.

After decades under attack from Gaza, Sderot has new construction to keep up with the demand.

People arrive in Israel to volunteer and immigrate during a war, and people want to live in Sderot.

I finally got a better photo of the watermelon in front of the library.

Ironic, that the watermelon was there long before its use in a social media campaign against Israel began.

There are bomb shelters by the bus stops along the road to Sderot.

But also, kilometers lined with the Sabra Cactus plants.

On leaving Sderot is the AMDOCS building with a large blue and white banner.

Under the blue and white flag in Hebrew is – “Strong together.”

The week past saw Israelis united in mourning, now to maintain that unity to victory.

In Jerusalem, Silver, Bronze, and Gold under Grey Sky

Sharon A

On the first day of school in Jerusalem, Israel, usually the photos of politicians and proud parents fill the news feed. Not so this morning, with the news of the return of six Israelis murdered in Gaza.

President Isaac Herzog went as planned to Yad Mordechai, where a large percentage of the students wore yellow shirts, instead of the traditional white ones.

The art on the wall in the Jerusalem Theater reflects the mood and the sky over Jerusalem today.

The photos of Israelis forced from their homes for months as rockets are constantly fired from Lebanon onto their northern communities are in the lobby as you enter, along with the red sign for the protected area in the theater.

Nevertheless, the end-of-summer concerts were held outside to hundreds of theater patrons last week.

During these dark days, there was a source of light, pride, and hope that was overshadowed.

Olympics and Paralympics Pride!

🇮🇱Ami Dadaon won a gold medal in swimming, setting a new Paralympic record. The Israeli clinched the gold in the 100m freestyle final. This is the second gold for Team Israel! He adds this gold medal to the two golds and one silver he won at the 2020 Paralympics in Tokyo!

The returning Olympic athletes were hosted at Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s Residence last week.

The medal winners were given honored seats near the President.

The Judo medal winners,

all had bright smiles for the cameras.

Artem Dolgopyat won gold last time, and now silver, but was only present in a video.

The Herzogs entered and greeted their guests.

Two of the medalists spoke for them all, every athlete a source of pride.

Many athletes got a turn to speak also, pride for all of them was the theme of the day.

The official posed photo with the medalists was taken inside Beit Hanasi.

The large group photo was taken outside. It was a feel-good positive event.

However, the news of the IDF rescuing Qaid Farhad Alkadi took all the international headlines that day. Interesting, how even that rescue could be spun into a negative press story by the media.

The end of August is the time when all hands, friends, and relatives are called on to help out with young children on the last days before the start of school. We made pizza, challah, and a big mess, but no meltdowns, blood, or broken bones. So a huge success?

One of the athletes at Beit Hanasi had two young children with him. As he took the microphone to speak holding one child, the older one left the building and put herself in the stroller outside. The look of relief when he realized she was found – priceless. Now hopefully all are safely back in school.

With the month of Elul, the nightly selihot and selihot tours are to begin. Many more nights this year at the Kotel, Western Wall, from the Tower of David, and Selihot for women and girls in Jerusalem private homes.

I was going to end with an upbeat video from the past…but this new one seems more appropriate today, it’s September but we are still experiencing October Rain.

Shulem – October Rain.

Before I could publish, this news- ‘Mazal Tov’ to Israeli rowers Shahar Milfelder and Saleh Shahin for winning the bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Paralympics.

May the good news rain over the bad.