When 9/11 and the 18th of Elul Fall on the Same Day
This morning, during my daily Psalm 27 meditation, I was struck by something unusual: September 11th coincides this year with the 18th of Elul.
Elul is the Jewish month of contemplation and reflection before the High Holidays. The 18th, meanwhile, corresponds to Chai, the Hebrew word for life. And of course, September 11th is the anniversary of the attack on the Twin Towers in New York and the Pentagon.
Contemplation. Life. Death. All on one day.
Sometimes my writing leans toward clarity. Today, it feels more like poetry. Because this year, the convergence of these two dates stopped me in my tracks: 18 for life, 9/11 for loss.
Holding Life and Death Together
It has already been a difficult week. Just yesterday, a teenager in Evergreen, Colorado, shot two classmates and himself. On the same day, conservative podcaster Charlie Kirk was assassinated while speaking on a college campus, his killing broadcast across TikTok.
And yet, on the other side of the ledger, there is life: Elizabeth Tsurkov was released from captivity in Iraq.
We are grateful that more people were not hurt in Evergreen, and still devastated knowing how many were traumatized. We grieve violence in our politics and feel the danger of what may come next.
Contemplating life and death is unavoidable. But Mussar teaches us not to immerse so deeply in sorrow that we lose sight of blessing.
Mussar Soul Traits for Days Like This
When I looked at the Mussar Center’s list of middot (soul traits), two spoke to me:
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Self-Control (Perishut) – not giving in to despair, rage, or hopelessness.
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Strength (Gevurah) – the courage to hold grief, while also making space for gratitude.
These traits remind me that even in dark times, we are not powerless. Mussar offers a path to respond with balance—feeling the weight of loss while still reaching for life.
Your Turn
Which traits speak to you today? When the world feels heavy, what inner qualities do you lean on to steady yourself?
I’d love to hear your reflections in the comments below.
—Rabbi Greg
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