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Holocaust Community Services: September 11th, 2002 Remembrance


David Bier
Chicago
September 11th, 2002 Remembrance

Last September 11th 2002 a program was arranged for Holocaust survivors in the Chicago area by the Jewish agencies which jointly work under the program name Holocaust Community Services. We wanted to offer a special opportunity for survivors to come together to remember and reflect on the tragedies, destruction and loss of life.
Some survivors had previously told us of their vivid associations and fears brought up by 9/11; for many in a stronger way than almost any other event since their own liberation.

Kaddish was recited and Michael Siegel, Senior Rabbi of Anshe Emet Synagogue, spoke movingly about the difficulties of reconciling personal faith with tragedies, referring both to experiences in the Holocaust and those more recent; the best answer being that no-one can know why bad things happen.

We invited the 50 survivors present to speak about what they had felt and recalled as they learned about the tragedies on 9/11, and these were written up on poster sheets on the wall. A volunteer member of our program's event planning team skillfully compiled the 60+ thoughts and memories the survivors contributed into a wonderfully effective prose poem.

This was read to the group before the end of our program and served as a tremendous validation of the survivors' feelings, and it seemed to have helped the individuals come together and feel united as a Community with concerns in common.

Then and Now: Holocaust Survivors speak on September 11, 2002.

There is a new doubt - we saw that it can happen again.

September 11, last year brought back emotions - my parents perished on September 7 - but last year on September 11, it was their Yahrzeit.

Everything from half a century ago comes rising up - over and over and over again.

Yes, I feel more secure in this country - but not for the rest of the world.

So many questions, no answers.
And who is to blame?
So much suffering, so many questions

I feel guilty for surviving but my father told me I must survive.
But why me? Choosing life, that's what we did. Mere chance.

Why not me?
Why them?
But life chose us, the Survivors.

I feel the helplessness and horror of those who were hit - the unfairness, out of control-ness. I remember

When the buildings were burning it looked just like the chimneys at Auschwitz.

I remember.
Again, they talk of blaming the Jews.
Remember?

We struggle to find fitting actions. Remember the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising? Remember it. Taking control, heroism. Hope.

How to prevent history from repeating itself?

Have faith.

Have no fear.
Live in hope.

What about evil? Have we learned nothing from history? Again, no answers.

Many promises but no help from the world. Yet, in desolation, comfort may come from a stranger.

The rabbi said we should live " 'keh ilu,' as if,
as if we might get there."
Shalom,
Tikun olam.