As Jews, what is an appropriate way to commemorate the anniversary of the September 11 attacks?

If your local Jewish community does not have plans to commemorate 9/11, ask if you can lead a program, then seek the help from educators, rabbis, or interested community leaders.  Below are some suggested texts. These are also good choices to read alone if you feel that an activity with a group is not your style.

Tehillim – Psalms – are a traditional way to read and reflect on tragic or challenging times. Psalm 121 with ‘I lift my eyes to the mountain- from where will my help come?’, or Psalm 23 with ‘The Lord is my shepherd’, or the traditional Psalm for the High Holiday season, Psalm 27 with ‘The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?’; these are all great readings, among others.

On Tisha B’Av, the day the Temple was destroyed, Jews traditionally read from the book of ‘Eicha’ – ‘Lamentations’. Certain selections, which dealt with the traumatic event of the destruction of the 1^st and 2^nd Temples and the violence that accompanied it, would be a good think to use as a parallel to the horrendous events of 9/11. A mention of Amalek, the forces of evil that sought to destroy the innocent throughout Jewish history, might also be appropriate. Those texts can be found in Exodus 17 and Deuteronomy 25. Some modern poems or a story from the events of September 11^th that would be reflective and evoke the memories of those who were lost would also be fitting.

Finally, some text reflecting on peace and non-violence might frame the day appropriately. The Jewish response to 9/11 is not particularly different than any faith-tradition’s response to violence: the killing of the innocent is an act of evil, and although we may act to defend ourselves, we as Jews should constantly strive for peace. In this way, we fulfill the aspirations of our prophets to ‘beat swords into plowshares’, remembering the words of our sages ‘Hillel said: Be of the disciples of Aaron, loving peace and pursuing peace, loving your fellow creatures and bringing them close to the Torah.’