This panel discussion, part of Women’s History Month activities in March and the 60^th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW60), will feature the personal stories of women who have risen above adversity and who are working to create safe and sustainable communities.

My life, like the lives of so many others, changed forever on 9/11. I was in my Manhattan apartment that morning when I turned on the television to check the weather. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. The twin towers were burning. I immediately called my office, which was not too far from the World Trade Center. I was told that everyone had been evacuated and that I should stay home. In fact, our offices were not able to reopen for almost a month. The events that unfolded on 9/11 made me realize that I must do something. So in December 2001, I quit my job and moved to Israel to volunteer with organizations that support victims of terrorism and their families.

A Day of Terror

And then, on June 11, 2003—a day I will never forget—I became a victim of terrorism. It is 12 ½ years since that horrific attack and the memories are still with me each and every day.  When I close my eyes, it all comes rushing back. As I boarded the bus, I saw two empty seats in the front section and decided to take the window seat instead of the aisle, a choice that I now know saved my life. I remember the sounds of crushing metal and feeling shock as the explosion tore through the bus. I remember immediately shutting my eyes, an instinct that saved my sight.  I remember the moment of eerie silence that followed the blast—the silence of those who were dead in every seat around me.

I screamed so loud that a stranger, who had heard the blast from three blocks away, heard my cries and ran toward the mangled bus and pulled me out. I will never forget the old woman who stood by my side holding me as I was burned, bleeding and frightened. I will never forget the kindness and love that was shown to me by those I had known my entire life and by those whom I had never met. My injuries were extensive. Shrapnel went through my left shoulder breaking my clavicle bone, both my eardrums were blown from the impact of the blast, my hair was burned, my face burned and bruised, my legs badly cut. I have two pieces of shrapnel in my mouth that are inoperable. I found out two days later that everyone seated and standing next to me did not survive. Sixteen innocent people were murdered on that day and over 100 more were injured.

Healing & Moving Forward

This horrific experience taught me that life really is sacred. An attack happens in an instant but the impact lasts a lifetime. I had no control over what happened to me that day but I can control how I live my life going forward. I choose to live my life with love and kindness instead of hate. I continue to work to bring victims of terrorism from all over the world together in an effort to build a culture of peace. I try to provide healing for victims and family members, through peer support and understanding.

I believe my mission as a survivor is to continue to find the positive and empower others to live their life and make the world a better place. This is not only true in my personal life but my professional life as well. My job as Assistant Director, Career Services at Touro College and Lander College for Women gives me the opportunity to empower the incredible students that I have the honor of working with every day. I feel proud to work with such bright and ambitious women as I provide career counseling and assist them with their resumes, interviewing skills, and networking opportunities. I try to remind them that even though life does not always work out the way we’d like, it is how we choose to react to these situations that will determine success. It’s important to realize that every challenge is an opportunity to learn something new and to grow. I want my students to become great leaders in their chosen fields, and I am hopefully giving them the tools they need to be successful when they graduate and to make an impact on the world.