This Monday, to commemorate September 11th, RASG Hebrew Academy high school students listened as their teachers and administrators led an assembly that not only recounted their experiences from 15 years ago, but also expressed how the world was forever changed from that day forward. Sunday, September 11th, 2016 marked the 15th anniversary of one of the greatest atrocities in American history.
“I was very impressed with the students’ response, seeing everyone sitting there and paying attention,” said Rabbi Jeff Ney, director of student activities. “They really absorbed everything that happened. This was a really appropriate response to a delicate and difficult program.”
This year’s program was significant due to the fact that most of the students in the assembly were born after the 9/11 attacks. The objective, said Rabbi Ney, was not only to demonstrate how the attacks changed the world forever, but to ensure that this doesn’t just become something written in the history books.
Freshmen Samantha Ebner and Sherri Shahar called the assembly “meaningful, informative, and something still very relevant to our lives today.”
Speakers Dr. London, Mr. Garber, Dr. Lieber, Mr. Berman, and others shared their own personal experiences on the day of the attacks and spoke about friends and relatives lost in the tragedy.
Mr. Matla offered a historical overview of the day and how it changed the world.
The day after the assembly a group of students, led by senior Julia Ohana (12th), crossed the street to express their thanks to Miami Beach fire fighters in the station next to the school. Students brought them pastries, cookies and brownies to show their gratitude.
“When people are running out of the building, they’re running into it,” said Ilan Aronovski (12th), one of the student delegates. “We owed them an in-person thank you. They loved it and appreciated us going by.”
September 11th is a day that should be reserved to pay tribute to the all of the unsung heroes. As the years go by and this tragedy may seem to fade further into the past, it is crucial to remember and learn about this horrific day as a way to unite as a school and as Americans.
By: Daniel Yerushalmi (12th grade) and Lexi Sugar (12th grade)