9/11

Over two decades ago, on a Tuesday—exactly one week before September 11, 2001—I was driving across the 59th Street Bridge, heading to Rebbetzin Jungreis’s Tuesday night class at Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun on the Upper East Side. This was a routine I had followed faithfully for two years.

As I crossed the bridge, my eyes drifted toward the Twin Towers—and what I saw sent a chill through me. Small aircraft were circling the buildings. An overwhelming sense of foreboding washed over me, a vision stirring deep within, hinting that something terrible was imminent.

At the time, my spiritual awareness and Torah knowledge were still developing. I didn’t fully grasp the meaning of what I was sensing. Not wanting to believe that such a tragedy could occur, I tried to dismiss the vision, convincing myself it was impossible.

That Friday afternoon, just hours before Shabbat, I once again found myself driving across the 59th Street Bridge. As I turned my head toward the Twin Towers, I saw it again—small aircraft circling them, just as before.

Something inside me knew this was not normal. Acting on instinct, I stopped my car on the bridge and, in desperation, prayed to HaShem. I begged Him to prevent any catastrophe from happening in my lifetime. It may have been a naïve prayer, born from my limited understanding at the time, but it was the only way I knew how to respond to the overwhelming feeling I had.

That weekend, during a Shabbaton with Hineni, I felt a strong urge to share what I had seen and sensed. But something held me back. Looking back, I am grateful I remained silent. Had I spoken about my premonition of 9/11, it might have led me down a different path—one where I might not be here today, writing these words to you.

Yet, in ways I may never fully understand, I believe my prayers made a difference.
Miraculously, many people who would have been at the World Trade Center that morning did not show up for work, sparing their lives. While the loss of life was immense and tragic, there were countless others who were saved that day.

In the wake of 9/11, I knew I needed to elevate my understanding. I enrolled full-time at Yeshivah Torah Mitzion in Merrick, Long Island, immersing myself in Torah study for the next two years. That period of intense learning was transformative. I believe HaShem guided me toward this path, enabling me to grow spiritually and prepare for the work I would one day do.

Over the years, my understanding of what happened on 9/11 has evolved. Through extensive research, I have come to believe that airplanes were not responsible for the collapse of the Twin Towers or Building 7.

While the world may not yet fully know the truth, I trust that one day everything will be revealed.