Sept. 11, 2001, forever altered the lives of millions around the world as civilian airliners were transformed into weapons of terror in the attack on the United States.
Each year since then, at the 9/11 Living Memorial Plaza in Jerusalem, a ceremony is held to honor the victims of that day.
Organized by KKL-JNF, Jewish National Fund-USA and the U.S. embassy in Israel, the event takes place under the bronze flame-shaped sculpture designed by Israeli artist Eliezer Weishoff.
The memorial, located near the Ramot neighborhood, centers on a 30-foot-tall cenotaph that incorporates a metal piece from the ruins of the Twin Towers into its base, symbolizing the enduring connection between the two nations. The annual commemoration, which is live-streamed globally, typically features American dignitaries, including the U.S. ambassador.
This year’s event, set against the backdrop of the ongoing warfare in the north and south of Israel, was particularly poignant. Yellow ribbons, symbolizing support for those affected by the conflict, added a layer of meaning to the ceremony, which included the presence of a U.S. Army honor guard and uniformed police and firefighters.
Among the speakers, two individuals from the U.S. stood out—each with personal connection to the events of 9/11 and now to Israel.
‘We all deserve better’
Jamie Gartenberg Pila, whose father, James Gartenberg, was killed in the attack on the World Trade Center in New York, delivered a moving address. Born six months after her father’s death, her connection to his voice is a WABC interview he gave while trapped on the 86th floor of the North Tower.
Today, Gartenberg’s name is etched on the memorial wall at the Jerusalem monument, alongside the names of the nearly 3,000 victims of that day. It is the only monument outside the United States that lists all the names.
On Sept. 11 this year, Pila, now a staff sergeant in the Israel Defense Forces, stood in her uniform to speak at the ceremony. Following her mother Jill Pila’s remarks about her late husband’s heroism, Jamie briefly shared her story.
She explained how losing her father to terrorism had driven her to dedicate her life to doing good, one person at a time. Joining the IDF, she said, allowed her to contribute to the safety and security of Israel—a country working towards peace.
Recalling the Oct. 7 terrorist invasion, during which she came under fire while serving in a combat intelligence unit, Pila drew a direct line between the horrors of 9/11 and the violence she witnessed firsthand.
“I was shot at by the same terrorists who celebrated the murder of my dad and the 2,976 others on Sept. 11,” she said. Reflecting on her father’s love for the University of Michigan, she added, “Students protesting and burning American flags would break my father’s heart.
“We all deserve better,” she concluded.
American firefighter
Lt. Aston Bright, a firefighter from Plantation, Fla., brought a different but equally compelling perspective. Wearing his dark-blue dress firefighter uniform, Bright expressed his admiration for the beauty of the Jerusalem memorial and spoke of the fragility of peace. He emphasized the shared values between the U.S. and Israel—freedom, democracy, the rule of law and the sanctity of life—values that terrorism seeks to undermine.
Bright’s connection to 9/11 is also personal. As a child, he was inspired to become a firefighter after witnessing the bravery of first responders on that fateful day.
In 2016, he joined the Emergency Volunteers Project, created by Adi Zahavi in 2006 after the Second Lebanese War, to help Israelis under fire. Since then, he has returned several times to Israel, each time responding to crises with courage and dedication.
In 2017, Bright encountered differences between firefighting in the U.S. and Israel—smaller trucks, bulletproof vehicles and firefighting gear designed for conflict zones. “In America, there are no rockets,” he noted.
Bright returned in 2018 during the Gazan “Great March of Return” riots, helping to extinguish fires ignited by incendiary balloons and kites launched from the Strip. He vividly remembered the exhaustion of Israelis as fires scorched acres of southern Israel. Twenty-six fires were blazing on the last day of his volunteer mission.
In November, as the current Gaza war unfolded, Bright again answered the call, leading fire response efforts in Ashkelon while rockets rained down from Gaza.
When asked why he continues to return to Israel, Bright’s answer was simple: the values he shares with Israel and the calling to protect life.
As the sun set on Sept. 11, Bright concluded his remarks in the hills of Jerusalem, “You are not alone. If you need, just call, we are coming.”
