• Home
  • About
    • About
    • Policies
  • Submissions
    • Op-eds
    • News / Announcements
  • Contact
  • Donate
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

eJewish Philanthropy

Your Jewish Philanthropy Resource

  • News Bits
  • Jewish Education
  • Readers Forum
  • Research
  • Show Search
Hide Search
You are here: Home / The World / Remembering Those Who Lost Their Lives 10 Years Ago

Remembering Those Who Lost Their Lives 10 Years Ago

September 11, 2011 By eJP

by Rabbi Peter J. Rubinstein

The prophet Jeremiah witnessed Jerusalem set ablaze and the Holy Temple obliterated by marauding Babylonian troops. Despite observing these traumatic events as well as the forcible exile of Israelites to Babylonia, Jeremiah impeccably believed that out of that calamity would arise another formation of the people of the Torah. In his metaphor we could be “like a tree planted by waters, sending forth its roots by a stream” thereby sprouting life anew. (Jer. 17:8)

In fact Jeremiah was right. The destruction of the Temple in 586 BCE, the fall of Jerusalem, the exile to Babylon was not our people’s demise. Rather it emerged as a catalyst for the origin of Jewish life as we know and live it today.

Our history incorporates destruction and rebirth. When the Holy Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed our ancestors sat by the rivers of Babylon and wept. When the glorious synagogues of central Europe and the people who entered them were destroyed our people worldwide gazed in horror at the obliteration of entire communities and wept. When the voice and song of the Jewish community of Spain was silenced during the Inquisition, the exquisite synagogue of Toledo made into a Church, our people wept.

But we rebuilt. We moved from house to house, country to country, and from continent to continent. In every era we Jews survived and shouted songs of exultation. When we could we returned to rebuild our homes and our synagogues. We did not forget our losses. We built upon the foundations of memory and commitment.

In his time Nehemiah saw the collapsed walls of Jerusalem “which were broken down and the gates thereof were consumed with fire.” (2.13) Nehemiah called upon the people to remake the walls of Jerusalem. In response the people cried out “Nakum oo-va-nee- nu” “Let us rise up and build” (2.18)

As we commemorate the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy the venture before us as a city and nation is not only to rebuild physical structures. Rather this is a time to re- imagine ourselves as an embodiment of Jewish survival and pledge ourselves to the mission of our people, that is to help all others by being a light, sharing our strength, enlarging our vision and courageously believing that every problem in our community is solvable and every dream is attainable … for the good of us all.

Rabbi Peter J. Rubinstein is senior rabbi of Central Synagogue, New York City.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Filed Under: The World

Click here to Email This Post Email This Post to friends or colleagues!

Primary Sidebar

Join The Conversation

What's the best way to follow important issues affecting the Jewish philanthropic world? Our Daily Update keeps you on top of the latest news, trends and opinions shaping the landscape, providing an invaluable source for inspiration and learning.
Sign Up Now
For Email Marketing you can trust.

Continue The Conversation

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Recent Comments

  • Bruce Powell on An Invitation To Transparency: Reflections on an Open Salary Spreadsheet
  • Sara Rigler on Announcement: Catherine Reed named CEO of American Friends of Magen David Adom
  • Donna Burkat on The Blessings in 2020’s Losses
  • swindmueller on Where Do We Go From Here?
    Reflections On 2021
    A Jewish Response to These Uncertain Times
  • Alan Henkin on Where Do We Go From Here?
    Reflections On 2021
    A Jewish Response to These Uncertain Times

Most Read Recent Posts

  • Jewish Agency Accuses Evangelical Contractors of “Numerous Violations” but Denies They Evangelized New Immigrants
  • Breaking: Birthright Israel & Onward Israel Seek to Join Forces to Strengthen Jewish Diaspora Ties with Israel
  • An Invitation To Transparency: Reflections on an Open Salary Spreadsheet
  • Why One Zoom Class Has Generated a Following
  • The Blessings in 2020’s Losses

Categories

The Way Back Machine

Footer

What We Do

eJewish Philanthropy highlights news, resources and thought pieces on issues facing our Jewish philanthropic world in order to create dialogue and advance the conversation. Learn more.

Top 40 Philanthropy Blogs, Websites & Influencers in 2020

Copyright © 2021 · eJewish Philanthropy · All Rights Reserved