{
  "id": 6469668,
  "title": "Twenty-five years after 9/11: Looking back at the 'Before Times' for American Jewry",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/twenty-five-years-after-9-11-looking-back-at-the-before-times-for",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-09T20:36:13.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Jerusalem Post",
    "slug": "jerusalem-post",
    "url": "https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-908168"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On September 10, 2001, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) reported that New York's Central Synagogue, which had been closed for three years due to a devastating 1998 fire, was reopening. The $40 million restoration project allowed congregants to return to their beloved landmark building. The story served as a reminder of the immense joy and collective trauma experienced by New Yorkers in the aftermath of the 9/11 terror attacks.\n\nIn the days leading up to September 11, JTA's reports highlighted various preoccupations of American Jews. In September 2001, Israel was in the midst of the second intifada, with Palestinian terrorist attacks and Israeli countermeasures dominating the news. On September 4, JTA reported that Israeli schoolchildren were returning to classes under warnings of potential attacks, as four car bombs had exploded in Jerusalem within a 12-hour period. American Jews were also facing a hostile international campaign against Israel at the UN World Conference Against Racism in Durban, South Africa, where Israel and the United States withdrew their delegations in protest.\n\nAs the world prepared for the 9/11 attacks, JTA reported on other issues of concern to American Jews. In September 2001, American Jews were divided over the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which aimed to pressure Israel economically and politically. Jewish leaders believed that the campaign, which compared Israel to apartheid South Africa, would not gain traction. Meanwhile, a Jewish-Arab educational institute in Israel had recently won a UNESCO peace prize, showcasing a glimmer of hope amid ongoing violence.\n\nOn the positive side, there were signs of Jewish resilience, particularly in Europe. Prague's Jubilee Synagogue held its first Jewish wedding in over 30 years, symbolizing the recovery of Jewish life after the Holocaust and Communist rule. Synagogues across England and seven Central and Eastern European countries were receiving preservation grants, while a joint effort in Kosovo saw Jews, Muslims, and Catholics working together to rebuild a mosque damaged during the war. A Jewish-Arab educational institute in Israel, Givat Haviva, had just received a UNESCO peace prize.\n\nDespite the discord and ongoing violence in Israel, some were still advocating for peace. Noa Ben Artzi, granddaughter of Yitzhak Rabin, toured American Jewish communities, urging Israelis to reconnect with Yitzhak Rabin's vision of peace, which involved addressing the grievances of neighboring Palestinians. JTA also reported on a giant Rosh Hashanah greeting card, weighing a thousand pounds and standing 6,400 square feet, unveiled at a pro-Israel event. Although Guinness World Records declined to recognize the record due to its method of assembly, the gesture remained a symbol of unity and resilience.",
  "summary": "Despite the conspiracy theories that tried to pin the attacks on Israelis and Jews, the dominant narrative was that Israel and the United States were engaged in battle against a common enemy.",
  "key_points": [
    "Central Synagogue reopened in NYC after $40M restoration",
    "Israel in second intifada, Palestinian attacks dominate news",
    "American Jews divided over BDS movement and UN Durban conference"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}