First responders honored
On Sept. 10, a day before the 25th anniversary of 9/11, Jewish National Fund-USA (JNF) partnered with Chabad Hebrew Academy in Scripps Ranch to honor first responders from San Diego Fire Department Station 37 and the San Diego Police Department, who risk their lives daily to protect and serve San Diego residents.
The “Shared Values: Honoring Our Heroes” program at the school-wide assembly highlighted the connection and shared values cherished by the people of the United States and Israel. During the ceremony, representatives from the two organizations presented the first responders and members of the United States Navy with a certificate featuring Jewish National Fund-USA and KKL-JNF’s 9/11 Living Memorial in Jerusalem – the only memorial of its kind outside the United States that lists the names of all those who perished on that infamous day.
Established in 2009, the monument pictured on the certificate features an American flag waving and transforming into a flame of liberty and hope, with a piece of metal from the ruins of the Twin Towers incorporated into its base.
“As the years pass, it becomes even more important to share the lessons of 9/11 with those who did not experience it firsthand,” said Kayla Globerson, Jewish National Fund-USA Senior Campaign executive, San Diego and JNFuture. “By remembering the bravery of first responders, ordinary citizens, and countless heroes, we help teach the next generation the enduring values of courage, resilience, unity and the responsibility to stand up for what is right, especially in times of adversity.”
Following the ceremony, middle school students heard from David Blacksberg, a former EMT with the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) who was present at Ground Zero on Sept. 11. Navy personnel spoke with the students and Rabbi Zevi New also shared his father’s firsthand account helping in the aftermath of 9/11.
“We expressed our heartfelt gratitude to first responders, firefighters and security personnel for their courage, dedication and ser-
vice,” said Keren Bradshaw, senior educator at Chabad Hebrew Academy. “It was a deeply emotional and inspiring experience for our students and our entire school community.”
In July 2026, Bradshaw visited the Jewish National Fund-USA 9/11 Living Memorial in Jerusalem and participated in a shared values ceremony with other senior educators nationwide while attending Jewish National Fund-USA’s Educator’s Mission to Israel. Inspired by this deeply moving ceremony, Bradshaw was integral to organizing the similar shared values programming at Chabad Hebrew Academy in Scripps Ranch.