Video summary
Twenty-five years after the tragic events of September 11th, Tal Shusta, an Israeli-American who was working at Mary Lynch in the World Trade Center, shares his harrowing eyewitness account of that morning. He recalls arriving early at the office located next to the Twin Towers and witnessing the first plane strike from eye level, with debris raining down just feet away. Although he had previously worked for the Israeli Consulate and was mentally prepared for potential terror attacks, it took him a moment to fully grasp the reality of what was happening. He and his colleagues immediately evacuated by running down forty flights of stairs without hesitation, leaving their personal belongings behind under the assumption they could return shortly, only to realize upon reaching the lower levels that this was not an accident but a coordinated terrorist act after the second plane hit.
The escape route became a chaotic scene as the group ran along the river on the west side, surrounded by scattered debris such as belts, phones, and shoes while hearing radio broadcasts from emergency vehicles trying to coordinate rescue efforts. Tal vividly remembers seeing the North Tower collapse directly in front of them before continuing their flight to 42nd Street and eventually making it safely to New Jersey with his coworkers. Despite the sheer magnitude of the disaster and the surreal nature of surviving such an event, he expresses profound gratitude for having escaped unharmed. The memory of that day remains etched in his mind, particularly the confusion and fear of being trapped on an island while trying to determine where to go next amidst the unfolding catastrophe.
Reflecting on the present day, Tal discusses the ongoing existence of terror threats and the resilience of the Jewish-American community across the United States. He highlights the strength of a proud community that numbers around 150,000 people and is capable of reacting swiftly to anti-Semitic incidents, citing recent examples where they mobilized thousands of signatures to condemn harmful rhetoric against Israeli artists. Tal emphasizes that while there are daily challenges and attempts to separate love for Jewish heritage from support for the State of Israel, his community stands united in offering unconditional love and support for Israel. He notes that this solidarity extends to protecting future generations, ensuring they remain proud of their identity as Jews and Israeli-Americans regardless of external pressures or political debates.
Despite the persistent issues facing the community, Tal asserts that he feels no fear today and observes a strong sense of pride among his people. His two children attend Jewish schools in New York City without any apprehension about their safety, mirroring the general feeling of security within his social circle. He believes that the community is united by a shared commitment to supporting Israel and maintaining their cultural identity with dignity. As he concludes his testimony, Tal offers a message of hope and resilience, affirming that while struggles continue, the Jewish-American population remains steadfast in its values and ready to lead positive change for the future.
Read the full video transcript
25 years later. Cannot imagine the range
of emotions right now. You were there on
that day. Take us back if you will your
memories of that morning in New York on
September 11th.
>> Thank you for having me here. Um yes. So
25 years ago I started to work at Mary
Lynch. It was after two weeks that I
joined the company. I was working for a
year and a half in the Israeli
consulate. That was my first job in the
in the US and came to Mary Lynch. Um
arrived there very early that morning.
It's located it was it's located in the
two world financial center. That's the
building right next to the twin tower
with around the top. And I was in the
office when it happened and we saw it
eye level the plane hitting the building
and tons of parts of the plane right
next to us. We immediately again maybe
because we are ready as Israelis as I
was ready as someone who worked also in
the Israeli consulate and we were ready
for terror attack but I didn't realize
it's a terror attack. It took me a
minute to understand. Uh we went
downstairs 40 floors. It was not even I
don't remember it even being hard in any
way. We just ran downstairs. Um and I
had a number of people with me in the
office. We all went there. I even left
my bag, my wallet, a few things over
there under the assumption that maybe in
half hour, an hour, I'll be back in the
office. We all went to the wall to the
winter garden and it's a glass, it's a
glass structure. And once we're there
downstairs, the second plane hit and
that's where we all realize, okay,
something different is happening here.
We are in a different scenario. It was
not an accident. It is a terror attack.
When we all start running, we ran along
the river seeing tons of things around
us. Belts, phones, hats, shoes,
different things. People were running.
There was a chaos, total chaos. Um, I
was lucky enough to be to escape. I was
lucky enough to be already around 15th
Street when I saw the building collapse
and I saw the building. We're on the
west side. We saw it collapse next to in
front of us. And from there, we all went
to 42nd Street. Again, it was not even
hard to run to 42nd Street. We're just
trying to find a place where he can
escape. And from there, we all went to
New Jersey. I had a number of people
with me from the office. They all came
with me to New Jersey. Um, but I'm just
I'm grateful that I was able to escape
and to um
and to be here today.
>> As you are speaking, it's just surreal
to look at those images, the magnitude
of what was happening at that time. And
as you are describing the shock for
everybody, you were right there. and not
knowing exactly what was unfolding 25
years on. What are the memories that
have stayed with you since then? What
stands out for you on this Memorial Day?
I remember the chaos taking the stair
downstairs and so many of my friends, my
colleague had families and friends who
were working actually in the World Trade
Center and then running along the river
on the west side and you hear the radios
from each uh we didn't have the phones
with us and we were running over there
and we heard the radio from each car and
we realized that what's happening? We're
here in this island and where are we
going next? And obviously that's that's
a and the realization that it was not an
accident that it's an attack and you're
in the middle of attack in kind of an
island and where are you going next?
That's a memory that I will never forget
and today we're struggling with
different issues but today you were able
to take actions in react.
>> Well that brings me to my next point.
Fast forward to 2026. your thoughts
right now as an Israeli American living
in the United States. Your understanding
and feelings right now about the terror
threats that still exist.
It's exist. It's exist every day
everywhere.
Doing my position today at the IA. I am
I'm grateful for that that we have a
strong community proud Jewish proud
IsraeliAmerican community coast to coast
touching 150,000 al around the United
States and able to react especially here
in New York where we have a mayor that
again we see anti-semitic incident every
day and we call it in United States in a
way we're saying that they're trying to
to chop us they're telling us yes we
love Jewish people come to Roshana come
to Passover But we don't like Israelis.
We like Israelis, but we don't like
what's happening in Israel. No, we are
telling them we are here. Unconditioned
love to the state of Israel. All of us,
Jewish American, Israeli American. And
we always we always think about the next
generation. Make them proud of who they
are, proud to be Jewish, proud to be
Israeli. And we're here to react. Just
this weekend, we're able to react very
quickly to what happened there at Shiran
concert. about 20,000 almost 20,000
people signed um signed and and we send
the we sent them a clear message to the
artist and to production company that
the artist who was singing before at
Chiron should not continue to perform
with him. So again, just one incident
that happened this weekend, but it's
happening all the time, and we are there
to react, lead, and take actions.
>> And of course, since October 7th, we
know the Israeli American Council has
been extending its work, as you say,
raising awareness, fighting
anti-semitism, Jewish communities living
in the US right now. Very briefly, from
your perspective, do you feel the Jewish
community is safe? Can people walk
around freely with their yamakas on with
their star of David? Go to synagogue now
for the Jewish new year starting
tomorrow night. Briefly, please.
I do not feel any fear. I feel that
people are proud. I myself have two kids
who attend school in New York City to a
Jewish school and they're not afraid to
go there every day and I'm not afraid
that they're walking there and most of
my people that I know around me not
afraid. We are proud proud Jewish, proud
Israeli American and always always proud
to support the state of Israel.
>> Tal Shusta, we so appreciate you sharing
your experience with us, your
recollections and your message of hope
and resilience for the future. We so
appreciate you being with us live from
Jersey City. Thank you very much for
being with us on
>> Thank you for having me.