Posted on September 12, 2024 by Rabbi David Katz
Where was I on 9/12, the day after the planes struck the Towers? I led a congregation on Staten Island, NY and was putting together a prayer service, deciding whether or not to sing “God Bless America.” Our son, Ben had gone to his high school in Manhattan the day before and would not come for home for 3 days because Staten Island had immediately been cordoned off from the City after the attack. The terrorists were believed to have stationed themselves somewhere among us.
We were advised to lock our doors and only go out to the grocery store to buy water and comfort food in case a radioactive bomb was detonated. That’s how Nancy and I found ourselves walking down the aisle of Waldbaum’s stocking up on candy bars and cottage cheese, talking to each other about whether or not to buy a boat in case we had to escape the Island quickly. We decided against it because we figured someone would probably steal it before we got to it.
On the evening of the 12th hundreds of congregants gathered in the Temple’s sanctuary – better to say huddled. We did sing “God Bless America” and in our brief service we recited Psalm 27. Here are words from that Psalm:
The Eternal is my light and my help;
whom should I fear?
The Eternal is the stronghold of my life,
whom should I dread?
When evil men assail me
to devour my flesh—
it is they, my foes and my enemies,
who stumble and fall.
Should an army besiege me,
my heart would have no fear;
should war beset me,
still would I be confident.
One thing I ask of the Eternal,
only that do I seek:
to live in the house of the Eternal
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Eternal,
…..
Had I not the assurance
that I would enjoy the goodness of the Eternal
in the land of the living…
Look to the Eternal;
be strong and of good courage!
O look to the Eternal!
Friends, Islamic terrorists have struck again. Israel experienced its own 9/11 on October 7 and is still at war with the perpetrators. Each day after 9/11 brought new challenges, so too, after 10/7 – new challenges and new tests. America prevailed after 9/11 and let us pray that Israel will do the same.
Let us not give up hope; let us be strong and of good courage.
L’shalom,
Rabbi David Katz
