In recognition of the 23rd anniversary of 9/11, Jewish National Fund-USA (JNF) partnered with Congregation Beth Shalom to host a special ceremony.
The event on Sept. 11 honored the school security officer who protects students every day; educated students about the terrorist attacks on 9/11; and reaffirmed the shared values between Israel and the United States of freedom and democracy.
Beth Shalom Director of Youth and Family Education Civia White and Polsky Religious School students presented school security guard Jeremy King with a plaque featuring JNF’s 9/11 Living Memorial in Jerusalem — the only commemorative site of its type outside of the U.S. that features all the names of those who were killed on 9/11.
Established in 2009, the 9/11 Living Memorial — a statue of an American flag waving and transforming into a flame of liberty and hope with a base that includes metal from the ruins of the World Trade Center — was dedicated as testament to the enduring connection between Israel and the U.S. and the countries’ shared values of peace, religious tolerance, democracy, freedom, resilience and fighting terrorism.
White, who visited the Living Memorial in person this summer when she attended JNF’s Educator’s Mission to Israel, was proud to put on the program for her students.
“The ceremony was incredibly moving,” she said, “and the kids were so excited to celebrate [King].”
In addition, JNF hosted its annual 9/11 commemoration ceremony at the Jerusalem memorial. The ceremony was attended by U.S. Marines, the U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Israeli firefighters, American police officers and diplomats, as well as American students from Alexander Muss High School in Israel, Young Judea, new American immigrants to Israel, and Israelis from communities bordering Gaza and Lebanon.
More information about JNF’s Israel and educational programs is available by contacting Sunny Cohen at (847) 656-8880 x753 or .
