Zochraynu: We Remember

September 11: Yahrzeit of a National Tragedy

Sharon Halper, BJE Westchester Coordinator of Professional Development

Like 'December 7th' and 'the day President Kennedy was assassinated,' September 11th has taken its place in American history as a date that will forever contain chapters of personal and American history for all who remember it.

The challenge of the Jewish school is to mark the secular date in the Jewish idiom, always emphasizing Jewish communal values while honoring the memory of all who were lost.

This educational unit - Zochraynu: We Remember - contains the following components, which apply traditional Jewish mourning traditions to a contemporary American event:

· Tzedakah

Giving tzedakah in the name of those lost helps to honor their memory, as well as aids those whose losses are incalculable.

· The Kaddish

At a time of sadness the recitation of the Kaddish is intended to praise God's name. How can we praise God after the death of thousands of innocents? How can we understand God's role in the world after September 11?

· Creation of Monuments and Memorials

The monument is a physical reminder of the deceased. Memorials can be physical actions we take in their memory.

· Memorial Lights

Yahrzeit candles burn for 24 hours of remembrance. The metaphor of bringing light into the world helps honor those lost with acts of caring and kindness.