What survives the smoke: From New York’s memorial to Jerusalem’s living future - opinion

The author visits Jerusalem's 9/11 Living Memorial Plaza and reflects on the deteriorating political relationship between New York and Jerusalem under Mayor Zohran Mamdani. He contrasts this with the vibrant scene of thousands of young Jews gathering at the Western Wall for slihot prayers, seeing their presence as a testament to Jewish resilience and continuity independent of political alliances.

The author visits Jerusalem's 9/11 Living Memorial Plaza, a cenotaph in the Ramot neighborhood featuring a monumental American flag transforming into a flame, with a piece of metal from the Twin Towers embedded in its base and the names of nearly 3,000 victims inscribed. He reflects on the inscription describing the monument as a manifestation of the special relationship between New York and Jerusalem, which now reads like a message from another age. The author contrasts this with the election of Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who has accused Israel of genocide, declined to affirm its right to exist as a Jewish state, stayed away from the Israel parade, and declared the prime minister unwelcome in New York. The author then describes the slihot pilgrimage to the Western Wall, where thousands of young Jews — religious and secular, in black hats, knitted kippot, jeans, flowing skirts, and IDF uniforms — filled Hurva Square and the streets, singing, dancing, and praying with energy. He sees their presence as an answer to those who believe Jews can be intimidated into abandoning their identity, concluding that the Jewish future is being written in the streets of Jerusalem, not in City Hall.