Jerusalem Post publishes retrospective on American Jews before 9/11
In the United States, the Jerusalem Post published a retrospective on the issues that concerned the American Jewish community ahead of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Author Andrew Silow-Carroll turned to archival materials from the Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) and compared the discussions of that time with developments over the following 25 years.
On September 10, 2001, JTA reported on the reopening of Central Synagogue in New York. The Reform synagogue had been closed for three years following a devastating fire in 1998. About $40 million was spent restoring the historic building, and hundreds of people worked on its reconstruction. After the September 11 attacks, Rabbi Peter Rubinstein, in a Rosh Hashanah sermon, combined the joy of the community's return to the restored synagogue with the pain and trauma that gripped New York.
Israel and the Durban conference
In early September 2001, Israel was in the midst of the Second Intifada: Palestinian attacks and Israeli retaliatory actions were daily news topics. On September 4, JTA wrote that Israeli schoolchildren were returning to classes amid warnings of possible attacks, while four car bombs exploded in Jerusalem within 12 hours.
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American Jewish organizations also responded to the UN World Conference against Racism, held in Durban, South Africa, from August 31 to September 7. The United States and Israel withdrew their delegations after the conference, according to the author, came to be dominated by attacks on Israel. During the same period, pro-Palestinian students were planning a nationwide campaign urging universities to divest from companies doing business with Israel.
A look back after a quarter-century
The author also mentions preparations for a solidarity rally with Israel near UN headquarters, discussions about a peace settlement, and signs of a revival of Jewish life in Europe. In particular, Prague's Jubilee Synagogue hosted its first Jewish wedding in more than 30 years.
The article calls September 11 a turning point for the United States and American Jewry. The author compares the public trauma following the 2001 attacks with the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel and notes that in subsequent years Jewish institutions in the United States strengthened security measures because of antisemitic attacks and threats.
