MY SAY: A MEMORABLE ROSH HASHANA POST 9/11
On 9/11, 2001 my husband and I were in Brussels, Belgium. As the horrific events unfolded, our ship made its way to Dover, England where we waited anxiously for a flight to New York which was scheduled for September 17th, 2001.
Two hours into our flight the pilot announced that a credible threat to our craft had been discovered and we would reroute to Canada at maximum speed. After a harrowing couple of hours, we landed on a grass field in Goose Bay, Labrador a Canadian Air-Force base with no access by car and ultra-tight security. We were permitted to take only essential medications, and rushed to waiting buses.
On the way to the base, the pilot explained that the bomb threat was serious and under investigation and urged us to cooperate fully with officials.
At the base, after we were thoroughly searched and endlessly interrogated , we were ushered to a large room where we made closely monitored short calls to reassure families, followed by snacks, cocktails, soft drinks, dinner and CNN broadcasts. Our overnight accommodations were spare but comfortable soldiers’ bunks underground.
At breakfast on September 18, the first day of Rosh Hashanah, the pilot assured us that our plane had been thoroughly searched by a special anti-terror team from Ottawa, and was safe for departure. It was a tense flight.
At J.F.K. airport a stone faced and sullen immigration officer asked endless questions and stared at our faces and passports repeatedly. Suddenly, he stamped our passports, smiled broadly and said:
“Welcome home to the United States and have a very happy New Year.”
We made it home in time for a festive and memorable celebration of the holiday with our entire family.
Whatever your faith I wish you and all people of good will a happy, healthy and sweet New Year. God bless America now and forever!
שנה טובה
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