09/11/2026
As we gather as a community this week, we find ourselves at a unique, reflective and deeply profound convergence of history, memory, and faith. This year, the solemn 25th anniversary of September 11th arrives just as our Jewish neighbors prepare to welcome Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. While one is a National Day of Mourning and the other is a sacred time of renewal, they are bound together by a single, powerful command: Remember.
When we say “Never Forget” in the context of 9/11, we are doing more than recalling a historical date. We are honoring the innocent lives lost, the bravery of the first responders who ran toward danger, and the profound sense of unity that bound us together in the aftermath. “Never Forget” is an active promise to carry their stories forward, to protect the values of freedom and community, and to remain resilient in the face of tragedy. It reminds us that even in our darkest hours, our capacity for compassion and collective strength defines who we are.
In Judaism, memory is not passive either; it is a spiritual practice. Rosh Hashanah is fundamentally known in the liturgy as Yom HaZikaron—the Day of Remembrance. As the shofar sounds, it calls on individuals to engage in deep personal reflection, looking back at the past year to evaluate our actions, our choices and our impact on the world before moving forward. It asks people to remember their actions, their history, and their obligations to one another. True remembrance requires us to wake up, look at our lives, and actively choose a path of renewal and betterment for the year ahead.
The alignment of these two occasions offers us a beautiful blueprint for how to heal and grow. Both 9/11 and Rosh Hashanah teach us that memory should never lock us in the past. Instead, memory must serve as a catalyst for the future. That catalyst for me is a core reason I believe in public service and work every day to make our community a better place. Public service is how I translate memory into action.
Wishing our entire community strength on this day of remembrance, and to all who celebrate, Shanah Tovah—may it be a good, sweet, and peaceful new year.
