MESSAGE FROM THE ORTHODOX UNION ON THE SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF SEPTEMBER 11, 2001: “THIS WE WITNESSED…”

Harvey Blitz, President
Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb, Executive Vice President
Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America

September 11, 2003

Today we observe the second anniversary of a watershed event in American history – in fact, in the history of civilization. It was an event of immense and tragic proportions. We witnessed the massacre of 3,000 innocent souls. We witnessed the sacrifice of legions of heroes who volunteered at risk of their lives to participate in herculean rescue efforts. So this is the anniversary of a moment of great sadness.

But this is also the anniversary of a moment of hope -- for in the midst of tragedy we witnessed courage, devotion, commitment, compassion, empathy and so much else that accords with the deep values of the Jewish faith and indeed of all faiths. From our offices just a few blocks from Ground Zero, we witnessed not only the flames and smoke, but we witnessed as well the neighborliness of the great City of New York. From a short distance, we witnessed the suffering of our brothers and sisters in the environs of the Capital of our great country as they too were made victims of this heinous attack, and we witnessed the heroism of the passengers on the plane in Pennsylvania who prevented an even greater tragedy.

Coming from a faith and tradition that has known unspeakable suffering in our own history right down to the present day, we sympathize in the depths of our hearts with all those who suffered such great loss and trauma two years ago. We admire the courage of the families of the victims. We salute as well the courage of the survivors as they continue their lives, and we pray that they build new achievements upon the ashes of September 11, 2001.

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