'Too large an event to overlook,' Rabbis say of commemorating 25th anniversary of 9/11 on Rosh Hashanah

For Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz of Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun, a Modern Orthodox synagogue on Manhattan's Upper East Side, acknowledging the September 11 attacks during this year's Rosh Hashanah observance is essential. "Yes, Rosh Hashanah is a sacred day," He said. "But nothing could be more sacred than remembering the victims of 9/11, showing gratitude to the heroes of 9/11 and vowing to uproot the evil of terror."

Rosh Hashanah begins on the 25th anniversary of the attacks, in which 2,753 people were killed in New York. Steinmetz stated that the synagogue "will absolutely remember 9/11 on Rosh Hashanah. It is simply too large an event to overlook, and everyone will be thinking about it that day."

The congregation will hold its annual 9/11 remembrance on the Shabbat before Rosh Hashanah to honor members of the New York City Police and Fire Departments, who will be recognized during the holiday's services. Steinmetz emphasized that the congregation cannot forget those murdered and drew a parallel between the perpetrators and other militant groups. "Gratitude is one of Judaism's foundational values, and very much belongs on Rosh Hashanah," He said. "We will never forget the nearly 3,000 victims of this terror attack, many of whom were members of the Jewish community" And "above all, we will never forget the heroes who ran into the buildings when everyone else was running out."

At Temple Emanu-El, a Reform synagogue also on the Upper East Side, Rabbi Joshua Davidson plans to incorporate a 9/11 commemoration into services on the eve of Rosh Hashanah. "Being a synagogue in New York City, many of whose members were here at that time - and all of our members think back on that day with deep emotion - one can't not, I think, incorporate it," Davidson said. He added that remembrance will be central to his sermon.

Davidson noted that commemorating 9/11 aligns with the holiday's significance. "Rosh Hashanah is Yom Hazikaron - the Day of Remembrance in Hebrew - it's about God's remembering covenant with us. But remembrance also involves our own remembering where we've come from and those events that have shaped us into who we are and the community that we are." For New Yorkers, he said, "9/11 is an event that will always be part of our collective identity."