9/11 - Vigilance and Liberty

“Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.”

There is some scholarly debate about who uttered these now famous words. Some say it was Thomas Jefferson, others say Ida Wells, others still say John Philpot Curran. It was used in a speech by Wendell Phillips and in the farewell address of Andrew Jackson. Regardless of the orator, as we approach the anniversary of 9/11, this profound sentiment is my memorial meditation. There is so much emotion wrapped up with the commemoration of the attacks that day - anger, fear, sadness, resolve, uncertainty and more. I still remember vividly how I felt as a rabbi and a New Yorker when my wife and I watched the tragedy unfold on the news with our newborn daughter in hand.

Yom Kippur that year was difficult for all of us in NYC, and though time has helped to soften the wounds, time must not soften our resolve as Jews, as Americans, as patriots, and as members of the human family as Yom Kippur approaches this year.

Often, when people talk about 9/11 they infuse their conversation with inflammatory and emotional rhetoric. They seek to promote a particular political, social, religious or military agenda, and in doing so they dilute what I believe are the lasting and important resolutions we must make to honor the immensity of the loss.

The above quote reminds me that the purpose of our country and all of its immeasurable sacrifices is nothing if not freedom and liberty. To the extent that our commemorations rededicate us to this immutable foundation, I believe they will properly give the events of 9/11 their due tribute. No matter what our politics or religion, if we neglect to defend and honor freedom and liberty, if we are complacent about promoting liberty, if we give up our freedom too easily to secure a limited measure of security and a feeling of safety, then I believe we are dishonoring those who lost their lives.

Equally true, I believe is the undeniable responsibility that 9/11 places on our shoulders. If we remain indifferent to the real threats that challenge our freedoms, if we do not defend our country from all enemies – foreign and domestic – if we fail to secure the blessings of liberty for ourselves and future generations, then we are unworthy of the sacrifice and the devotion that our fellow citizens give to ensure our life and liberty.

This is not a political diatribe, and I am not promoting any particular political or legislative agenda. Please don’t read it to support your own personal politics. Our commemoration  must be for all Americans, indeed for all people of every religion, creed, and country. For liberty knows no borders, and it is the right of all people to be free.

Vigilance must be our method, and freedom must be our purpose. To sacrifice freedom for the sake of vigilance, or to let down our guard for the ease of liberty; both of these failures would be a strong indictment of our republic and our ability to learn from past lessons.

May the memories of those lost be a blessing. May God grant us with strength, and bless us with peace.