B Y S A M U E L S O K O L ,J E R U S A L E M

A memorial to the over 3,000 victimsof Islamic terrorism who perished in the9/11 attacks has been erected in theArazim forest outside of Jerusalem. Thisshow of solidarity between the people ofIsrael and the city of New York was inlarge part made possible by CarmiSchwartz, a resident of Lawrence.

Schwartz, executor of the BronkaStavsky Rabin Weintraub estate, fundedthe memorial’s vast plaza, which includesthe names of those fallen as well asamphitheatre-style benches along theperiphery.

He explained in a prepared statement,“This poignant memorial on behalf ofthe victims of 9/11 helps demonstrate theshared commitment of two great democ-racies that battle terrorism—Israel and

the United States. This testament to thesolidarity shared by the U.S. and Israelgoes beyond lip service to unite thesenations and their allies in the globalfight against the destructive forces ofhumanity.”

The memorial was commissioned andbuilt by the Jewish National Fund-USAand features a central sculpture in theshape of a waving American flag trans-formed into a memorial flame. A smallpiece of wreckage from the World TradeCenter is in a compartment in the granitebase. The sculpture itself was paid forwith a donation from Edward Blank, alsoa resident of New York.

The 30-foot high bronze sculpture wasdesigned by award-winning Israeli artistE. Weishoff.

The Jerusalem monument is one of thefirst major international memorials tothe 9/11 attacks and the only site outside

of New York to recognize the names ofevery victim. It can be seen from the

main Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway and islocated directly across from the HarHamenuchot cemetery.

Carmi Schwartz took a few minutes tospeak with the 5TJT before the dedicationceremony began. “We are here to partici-pate in the dedication of the BronkaStavsky Rabin Weintraub plaza and livingmemorial for victims of 9/11 which in ourview constitute probably the most sym-bolic bonding of the United States ofAmerica and the State of Israel becausethe terrorist act against the United Statesof America which caused so much nation-al pain in America and personal pain wasthe culmination of the powerful bondingthat Israel and the United States so eager-ly require, though the bonding has beenstrong from the advent of the State ofIsrael in 1948,” he stated.

Schwartz’s wife, Perl, added, “Carmiand I brought three of our granddaugh-ters with us. The oldest is Rachel, the nextSarah, and [youngest] Tehilla for her batmitzvah, which was just in June, we treat-ed her and her sisters to a trip here…soshe could see what the family was able toaccomplish… [It’s] a very special experi-ence for us, and for them in understand-ing the past, the present and the future.”

Former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert,who was the mayor of Jerusalem at thetime of the attacks, made a surpriseappearance at the monument’s unveiling.He used the opportunity to publicly blastthe United Nations’ Goldstone report,which accused both Israel and Hamas ofwar crimes during the Jewish state’sdefensive war in Gaza this past Decemberand January. Acknowledging the difficul-ties inherent in asymmetric warfare, theformer prime minister explained there isa fundamental difference between vic-tims of terror and those hurt in thecourse of anti-terror operations. “When[terrorists] attack, when they commit sui-cidal attacks, the main purpose is to killinnocent civilians…to create chaos andanarchy. When the fight is against ter-ror…in the course of these actions, some-times uninvolved people are affected. It isagainst the desire and against the pur-pose of these operations.”

Ret. IDF Brig. General Dov Shefi losthis son in the 9/11 attacks. He stated thatthe memorial dedication ceremony “sym-bolizes the identification of the State ofIsrael…with the thousands of families of

24 November 20, 2009 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES

At the dedication ceremony, Perl and Carmi Schwartz with their granddaughters.

Lawrence Man DedicatesJerusalem 9/11 Memorial

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES November 20, 2009 25

follows Jewish law unless proved other-wise. Rabbi Eckstein has devoted his lifeto serving his fellow Jews. There is noth-ing to indicate that he would transgresslaws that prohibit benefiting from idola-try, G-d forbid.

The Fellowship’s primary intent is toencourage Christians to donate to Jewishcauses, but of course others may alsodonate. The IFCJ utilizes these criticalfunds in several arenas. I will note justtwo. The Isaiah 58 project, to which Ihave given money, is unmatched in itsendeavors on behalf of destitute Jewswho live in the former Soviet Union. Irecently viewed a program about Isaiah58 and came away stunned by the condi-tions in which these Jews live, yet heart-ened by the aid that the IFCJ providesthem. For a relatively small amount ofmoney, the Fellowship offers heat andfood to Jews who have been long forgot-ten by other organizations. The food iskosher, and the project is administeredon the ground by the Joint Distribution

Committee. In 2008, the Fellowship dis-tributed almost 25 million dollarsthrough Isaiah 58.

In Israel, the Fellowship directs vitalfunds to food kitchens and other aidgroups through its Guardians of Israelprogram. Among the beneficiaries areOrthodox organizations, includingMigdal Ohr and Colel Chabad. If thesegroups are cut off from Fellowshipmoney, which alternate source will stepup, in these difficult times, to make upthe deficit? Who will promise to providelife-saving assistance to the elderly, theHolocaust survivors, and others who relyupon the Fellowship?

I don’t know how the question aboutIFCJ was presented to Rav Elyashiv. Washe told that IFCJ engages in missionaryactivity? I have a letter in my possessionfrom the Fellowship in which its anti-missionary position is made crystalclear. As a corollary, I asked whether anyChristian organizations were involvedin distributing aid, a situation thatcould lead to missionary activity. Theanswer given me was: “We do not useChristian aid organizations in Russia, in

Israel, or any other part of the world todistribute to needy Jews.” Unfortun-ately, I believe that Rav Elyashiv waswrongly informed about the nature ofthe IFCJ and its mission.

I pray that those with access to RavElyashiv will revisit the IFCJ issue. I amconfident that if he is properly informed,Rav Elyashiv will revise his conclusion. Inthe meantime, I urge your readers to dotheir own research about IFCJ; I thinkthey will agree that this organization’slife-saving work deserves our support.

Avi Goldstein,Far Rockaway

Editor’s note: The pernicious aspects ofRabbi Yechiel Epstein’s IFCJ organization,including the Isaiah 58 project, wereexposed in an article by Mayaan Pase-Jaffein, “Buying Jewish Souls,” in theMarch 2005 issue of The Jewish Observer,as well as in a follow-up to RabbiEckstein’s response in the Summer 2005issue. Readers may also be interested in aJuly 24, 2005 New York Times Magazinearticle by Zev Chafets, “The Rabbi WhoLoved Evangelicals (and Vice Versa).” v

LETTERS TO THE EDITORContinued from Page 23

the victims of September 11 throughoutthe world, with the United States andwith the city of New York.”

Col. Rick Burgess, the American mili-tary attaché in Israel, recalled his memo-ries of the 9/11 attacks. Burgess told the5TJT: “I was serving in Turkey onSeptember 11, 2001, and this [ceremony]brought back a lot of memories, powerfulmemories in my mind, and sitting herewith Jerusalem in the background, it’sjust an amazing experience... The UnitedStates is always going to stand with Israel.There’re lots of challenges around theworld and we’re going to work throughall these, and it’s just very meaningful tome to have this opportunity to be heretoday...Set against the magnificent back-drop of Jerusalem, the living memorialwill be a moving place from which tomourn the victims of 9/11 as well as con-sider the thousands of victims of terror-ism worldwide,” said Russell F. Robinson,CEO of the JNF. “Jerusalem is a battle-ground of civilization but also a place ofhope. The memorial is situated inJerusalem’s green belt; what better placeto show that civilization won?”

Both former President Bill Clinton andcurrent Israeli Prime Minister BenjaminNetanyahu sent letters expressing theirsolidarity with the victims of terrorism.PM Netanyahu wrote, “As home to three ofthe world’s major religions, Jerusalem is afitting home for this memorial—one thatnot only commemorates the victims ofterror, but also reaffirms our commitmentto freedom, democracy, and tolerance.” v