At Binghamton University, a 9/11 Reminder for a Young Generation

On Sept. 11, 2001, Binghamton University, the State University of New York, lost 15 of its alumni in terror attacks that rocked the world.

Fourteen years later, on Sept. 10, 2015, current students at Binghamton took time out from their studies to reflect on the events of that day and do something meaningful by holding a “Mitzvah Marathon.”

Students launched the event on the first anniversary of 9/11, and it has been a school tradition ever since. Normally, it’s held on the day itself, but since Jewish students were leaving Friday for the Rosh Hashanah break, this year the event was held a day early, on Thursday, Sept. 10.

According to those involved, that didn’t lessen the impact of the event, which was co-sponsored by the Rohr Chabad Center for Jewish Student Life at Binghamton University and Hillel at Binghamton.

Hundreds of students, faculty and staff—including the president of the university, Harvey G. Stenger, and other administration officials—stopped by the “Mitzvah Marathon” tables, said Rabbi Levi Slonim, director of programming and development of Chabad at Binghamton.

Those who participated in the program to do good deeds had their choice of mitzvah projects. Some prepared peanut-butter and other types of sandwiches for the homeless. Others made Jewish New Year’s cards for soldiers or “get well” cards for children in a local hospital. Food was also collected for the Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse, and the Red Cross set up a blood drive area to help boost the city’s blood banks.

After a mitzvah was completed, students were given a photo of a person who perished on that Tuesday in 2001. On the back of the photos, students listed the mitzvah they performed before hanging them on a memorial wall.

A student helps make peanut-butter and other sandwiches for the homeless. (Photo: Chabad at Binghamton/Raquel Panitz)

“Through this act, students are able to specifically relate their good deed to the tragedy of the day, reminding them of its importance,” says Talia Schwartz, a junior at Binghamton and one of the event organizers.

‘Do Something Meaningful’

According to Slonim, the Lubavitcher Rebbe—Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory—“always taught us to turn our tears into action.”

In this case, the rabbi continues, “our response to the 9/11 tragedy should be to resolve to do something meaningful with this day to memorialize those who were lost and bring light into the world.”

While the memories of that day may not be as vivid for contemporary college students—who were only 4 or 5 when the attacks on U.S. soil occurred—Schwartz maintains that’s exactly why the marathon is needed.

“Beyond encouraging students to recall that tragic day, this event works to take the negative and create some good,” says the college junior. “By doing this, we are proving our resilience both as Americans and as Jews.”

Chabad at Binghamton will mark 30 years of service to the Binghamton University community with a gala celebration in New York City on Sunday, Nov. 1. For more information, visit: www.JewishBU.com/celebration30.

Rabbi Zalman Chein assists students in putting on tefillin. (Photo: Chabad at Binghamton/Raquel Panitz)

Students make Jewish New Year’s cards for soldiers and “get well” cards for children in a local hospital. (Photo: Chabad at Binghamton/Raquel Panitz)

Stenger lends a hand at the sandwich-making table; canned-food donations were also collected. (Photo: Chabad at Binghamton/Raquel Panitz)

As part of the day's charitable activities, the Red Cross set up a blood drive area to help boost the city’s blood banks. (Photo: Chabad at Binghamton/Raquel Panitz)

Says Rabbi Levi Slonim, director of programming and development of Chabad at Binghamton: “Our response to the 9/11 tragedy should be to resolve to do something meaningful with this day.”