As we remember the attacks on the morning of September 11, 2001, for the 25th year, Our President and Global CEO, Yael Eckstein, reflects on how we all have grown, been changed, and what we learned from this act of terror in an op-ed with The Washington Examiner:
25 years ago, America awoke to a morning that would forever change our understanding of evil, courage, and loss.
On September 11, 2001, thousands of innocent people went to work, boarded airplanes, and hugged their families goodbye, beginning what they thought would be an ordinary day. Instead, in a matter of hours, the world witnessed one of the most devastating terrorist attacks in modern history.
25 years later, we remember them.
We remember the mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, friends and neighbors, all whose lives were stolen that day. We remember the first responders who ran toward danger while others were running away. We remember the passengers of Flight 93 who, knowing the terrible reality unfolding around them, chose courage and sacrificed their lives to prevent even greater loss.
And we remember the extraordinary acts of kindness that emerged from the darkness.
September 11 showed us the very worst of what hatred can do. But it also revealed something equally powerful: the capacity of ordinary people to respond to evil with extraordinary courage and compassion.
That is a lesson we must never forget.
Today, as we mark the 25th anniversary of September 11, the world still faces rising terrorism, extremism, and hatred. Jews in America and around the world are confronting a growing wave of anti-Semitism. Israel continues to face threats from those who seek its destruction. And too many innocent people still live with the fear that violence can reach them simply because of who they are or what they believe.
As people of faith, we are called to stand together against hatred wherever it appears. We are called to protect the vulnerable, to speak up when innocent people are threatened, and to refuse to remain silent when anti-Semitism, terrorism, or persecution are directed against our brothers and sisters.
25 years after September 11, one truth remains as important as ever: we are stronger when we stand together.
The bonds between Christians and Jews, between Americans and Israelis, and between people of faith who believe in the dignity of every human life are not merely symbolic. They are a powerful answer to those who seek to divide us through fear and hatred.
The Bible teaches us, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
That is the legacy we should carry forward.
We honor the victims of September 11 not only by remembering their names, but by living in a way that makes their memory a blessing. We honor the first responders by having the courage to stand up for others. We honor the families who lost loved ones by refusing to allow hatred to have the final word.
And we honor the future by choosing hope over fear, unity over division, and love over hatred.
25 years later, we remember.
We mourn, we pray, and we stand together.