25 Years After 9/11: Lessons of Courage, Unity and Remembrance 

Yael Eckstein  |  September 8, 2026

Twenty-five years ago, the world awoke to a morning that would forever change our understanding of evil, courage, and loss. 

On September 11, 2001, thousands of innocent people went to work, boarded airplanes, and said goodbye to their loved ones, expecting nothing more than an ordinary day. Instead, within hours, the world witnessed one of the most devastating terrorist attacks in modern history — one that would leave an enduring mark on generations to come. 

Twenty-five years later, we pause to remember and honour those we lost.  

We remember the mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, friends and neighbours whose lives were taken that day. We remember the first responders who ran toward danger while others ran to safety. We remember the passengers of Flight 93 who, faced with the horrifying reality unfolding around them, chose courage and made the ultimate sacrifice to prevent even greater loss. 

And we also remember the extraordinary acts of kindness that emerged from the darkness. 

September 11 showed us the very worst of what hatred can do. But it also revealed something equally powerful: the capacity of ordinary people to respond to evil with extraordinary courage and compassion. 

That is a lesson we must never forget. 

As we mark the 25^th anniversary of September 11, the world continues to face terrorism, extremism, hatred, war, and conflict. Jews around the world are confronting a growing wave of anti-Semitism, while many communities in Israel continue to face security threats and the ongoing effects of conflict. And too many innocent people still live with the fear that violence can reach them simply because of who they are or what they believe. 

As people of faith, we are called to stand together against hatred wherever it appears. We are called to protect the vulnerable, to speak up for the innocent, and to stand alongside those facing anti-Semitism, persecution and the threat of violence.  

Twenty-five years after September 11, one truth remains as important as ever: we are stronger when we stand together. 

The bonds between Christians and Jews, between North Americans and Israelis, and between people of faith who believe in the dignity of every human life are not merely symbolic. They are a powerful answer to division, fear, and hatred. 

The Bible teaches us, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” 

That is the legacy we should carry forward. 

We honour the victims of September 11 not only by remembering their names, but by living in a way that makes their memory a blessing. We honour the first responders by having the courage to stand up for others. We honour the families who lost loved ones by refusing to allow hatred to have the final word. 

And we honour the future by choosing hope over fear, unity over division, and love over hatred. 

Twenty-five years later, we remember. 

We mourn, we pray, and we stand together.