NYC-WTC_000230614

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

daily NEWS, MONDAY SEPTEMBER 24, 2001

Rabbi’s rebuilt temple is inspiration or BO blocks to the ists leveled the twin towers, the shadow of death, then rising Rubenstein, who was bom end bulldi^ project, with its resolve ■j;. south, the terrible scenes breaking New Year’s heart but to the mountains, wanned by grew up in Bronx and became and vision, and its metaphoric -and anguished, desperate not its spirit, those words came the sun, to set our eyes (Hl the ho- rabbi of (he tandmarked Reform meaning. hunt for survivors over- back to him. rizon.” synagogue 11 years ago "Wb have embraced the faith whelmed Rabbi Peter Rubenstein, and he wrestled with what to say. It was supposed to be easy — his congregation, historic Central Synagogue REUGION in midtown, was celebrating CHARLES W. other hands holding the poles blowtorch being teed to repair a ry of the rebuilding of Jetusa- its first Hi^ Holy Days at BELL — all the colors, all the nation- f™ conditioning unit. ijm “And they said, 'Let us rise home in three years. A dev- allties. That’s the city. Rubenstein raced through the „„ and rebuild.’" astatingfire had driven wor- L “You rumble along, swaying, smoke and rescued (wo Torahs, His listeners did not know un- shipers to armories and and there are sodden stops,' one of them pieced together til Rubenstein told them, but He tore up his original Rosh community halls but now, after Hashanah sermon and started Rubenstein continued. “You’re from scrolls hidden by Europe- Central Synagogue already more than J 40 million in restora­ over. all holding tighter now, to keep an Jews during the Holocaust. stood as a much larger example. tion work, his flock was back. from falling. We're all holding The fire collapsed the roof Giuliani cited the synagogue's A rededication, with Mayor Deeply felt words tight now, together, because that and several beams collapsed, rising from the ashes when Pres- Giuliani, Edward Cardinal Egan A : sundown this past Tuesday, pole is our foundation." One fell on the organ, others idem Bush inspected the smol- and other notables, and the Zirhe first night of the 10-day Afterward, the congregation, crashed onto the floor. Many dering remains of the two World blowing of the ritual ram's horn, holiday celebrating the New which counts cosmetics heir members wept when they saw Trade Center towers. had been held Sept. 9. Year 5762, with its intense, Ranald Lauder, Public Advocate the damage. “He [the mayor) and Gov. Pata- “Sometimes, you suffer trau­ prayerful reflection and forgive­ (and mayoral candidate) Mark Rubenstein pledged to rebuild ki told the President that just as ma and tragedy and you won­ ness, Rubenstein look his place Green and former Securities and asked members to give gen- this congregation had rebuilt, so der," Rubenstein said at the re- and talked from his heart. and Exchange Commission erously. They did, Io the tune of the city itself will rebuild," । dedication, “and then you return “We are,' he said, "people chief Arthur Levitt as members, nearly S40 million. Rubenstein said. home. That’s what we've done." with a long and holy tradition of gave him a standing ovation. In his sermon. Rubenstein And with that, more applause I \ Two days later, when terror- walking through the valley of “That was a surprise,’ said made pointed reference to the re- rolled through the sanctuary

CITY_21MC100_011829937

NYC-WTC_000230614