In the Judean Hills, not far from the heart of Jerusalem, Israel, with the graves of Har Hamenuhot in view, stands the 9/11 Living Twin Towers Memorial. It is designed as a bronze American flag shaped as a flame, commemorating the flames of the Twin Towers and rises 30 feet to the sky, in the five acre Jewish National Fund Park. It is the only memorial outside the U.S. that includes all 2,996 names of those who perished in the attacks, even from countries with no diplomatic relations with Israel.
World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder mentioned in his remarks,“This metal remnant was taken from the remains of the Twin Towers, that imploded on September 11th disaster. It was sent over to Israel by the City of New York to be incorporated in this memorial. This metal piece, like the entire monument, is a manifestation of the special relationship between New York and Jerusalem.” As the first speaker at the special 15th year commemoration, Lauder added,“The entire world remembers the shock, the horror and the unbearable sadness of September 11, 2001. And nowhere in the world was that act of terror understood better than here in Israel. The pain of loss never goes away, but happiness comes from freedom, and free people rise over hate.
The Program began with Presentation of Colors by US Marines and Star Spangled Banner, followed by a Moment of Silence. US Ambassador Dan Shapiro noted that 15 years, is now long enough for this memory to be only a historical date to many students. In the audience were dignitaries, families of Israelis who were killed on September 11, 2001, representatives of Israel Police and Fire and Rescue, Nefesh B'Nefesh olim, plus Young Judea participants and Jewish National Fund Young Leaders.
Mike Nitzan, Deputy Chairman for KKL-JNF, spoke on behalf of memorial event sponsors, after which the audience was asked to rise as Tsvi Levinhar recited “Kaddish”
Special at this annual event was the presence of 50 US policemen, many involved in the Twin Towers attack, who were in Israel on a week long tour. On behalf of the group, Benjamin Salerno spoke of one of the first responders,Richard Rodriguez, who as a rookie was involved in the 1993 Twin Tower attack. Then in 2001, Rodriguez lost his life saving people trapped in the burning towers. It took until January, using DNA, to identify and confirm, Rodriguez had indeed perished. In the audience was Rodriquez's brother-in-law, as Salerno concluded, "We move on, but will never forget."
Everyone remembers where they were on 9/11, Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat told how he landed in New York City that morning. He was in New Jersey in business meetings, and recalled the "saddest and toughest day of his life," as they watched the destruction. Later Barkat found out his friend Daniel Lewin z"l had been the first victim of September 11 attack, killed trying to stop a hijacked plane.
Deputy Minister Michael Oren also recounted his very personal story. Yoav Oren, his son, was in New York City with friends, after completing army service. On September 10, the young Israelis were on the Twin Towers taking photos and wrote home they planned to go again the next day. With communication down, it took hours to find out, they made an appointment for 11:30 am, not 8:30 am as planned. To their parents relief, they were safely in Brooklyn taking photos of the destruction in Manhattan.
Oren added, he felt like his father must have in 1941, listening to the radio and realizing the world was about to change. Since the attacks in the US on September 11,"We struggle with same evil... against those who cut off heads, and kidnap and execute three boys." Oren added, "We must commit to to defend our common values of freedom."
Defending freedom and sharing common values was a theme through all the speeches. Mickey Rosenfeld, Israel Police Foreign Press Spokesman, told BJL."What is significant and important is today, a delegation of police from US, guests of the Israel National Police, are present." For a week the 50 members of US police force were working together with Israel Police on issues of access and security. "Common issues are global," adds Rosenfeld, with 200 delegations coming over every year, he is encouraged about future cooperation.
Floral wreathes were laid next to the memorial flame base by Noam and Ephrat Peretz, whose sister Alona Z"l was killed, on behalf of the families, Ronald Lauder on behalf of JNF USA, Ambassador Daniel Shapiro on behalf of the U.S. Embassy, Mike Nitzan on behalf of KKL-JNF, Dep. Minister Michael Oren, on behalf of the Government of Israel, Dep Director General Jeremy Issacharoff on behalf of the MFA, Mayor of Jerusalem Nir Barkat, Diplomatic Corps, Fire Chief Nissim Tweto – Acting Commander of the Jerusalem District, Israel Fire and Rescue,Major General Zohar Dvir, Israel Deputy Police Commissioner, Police Unity Chairman Montoure with Richard and Helen Lapa Galano, Ellen Hershkin, National President of Hadassah Medical Organization, Nigeria, and Embassy of Canada. Hatikvah concluded the program. Everyone present was offered an opportunity to place a flower on the wall of names.
The memorial was designed by Israeli artist Eliezer Weishoff, donated and dedicated in 2009 by Edward Blank, a retired New York telemarketing pioneer, and a member of JNF’s World Chair.
Included in the photo essay with those people mentioned on program are MC Leslie Tsou, artist Weishoff and his wife, and former Maryland resident, Adina Klein, heading the Young Judea delegation.
