ENCINO, Calif., September 17, 2026 — On September 8, 2026, just days before the 25th anniversary of 9/11, Jewish National Fund-USA partnered with Valley Beth Shalom synagogue (VBS) to honor Victor Castro, a member of the synagogue’s security team, for his dedication to protecting and helping ensure the safety of the Valley Beth Shalom school and community.
The “Shared Values: Honoring Our Heroes” program highlighted the unbreakable connection and shared values cherished by the people of the United States and Israel. During the ceremony with sixth-grade students and local community members, Barak Cohen, Senior Educator at Valley Beth Shalom, presented Castro 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. The memorial is a testament to the deep connection between the United States and Israel and the countries’ shared values of peace, religious tolerance, democracy, freedom, resilience, and the fight against terrorism.
The ceremony consisted of an interactive lesson in which students explored the question: “Why do we remember?” Students examined the difference between history, memory, and responsibility, learning about what happened on that tragic day, why it still matters 25 years later, and what remembering 9/11 should ask of us today. Cohen drove home the point that while the terrorist attacks took place in the United States, Israel chose to create a memorial that honors every victim by name. This opened a broader discussion about collective memory, shared values, sanctity of life, and the idea that another community’s history can also become part of our own moral responsibility.
“At Valley Beth Shalom, we focused our 9/11 educational program on honoring first responders and those who protect their communities,” said Barak Cohen. “We concluded by presenting our security team with a certificate of appreciation for their dedication and service. The lesson ended with a real act of gratitude – reinforcing the central message that memory should shape how we treat others and how we care for our community.”
In July 2026, Cohen visited the Jewish National Fund-USA 9/11 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, Cohen was integral to organizing the similar shared values programming at Valley Beth Shalom.
Jewish National Fund-USA and KKL-JNF also hosted their annual 9/11 commemoration ceremony from the 9/11 Living Memorial in Jerusalem on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. The ceremony featured U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee; Emmy Award-winning actress Patricia Heaton; Jewish National Fund-USA CEO Russell F. Robinson; Jewish National Fund-USA Chief Israel Officer Talia Tzour Avner; KKL-JNF Chairman Eyal Ostrinsky; and other distinguished guests. To watch the moving ceremony, visit Jewish National Fund-USA’s YouTube page.
For more information or to partner with Jewish National Fund-USA on future 9/11 Shared Values: Honoring our Heroes ceremonies, contact Zohar Vloski, Global Executive Director, Zionist Education at 561-447-9733 x898 or zvloski@jnf.org.
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About Jewish National Fund-USA
For 125 years, Jewish National Fund-USA has helped strengthen the land and people of Israel by investing in the communities, infrastructure, and leadership that shape the country’s future. Our work is focused on making Israel’s North and South places where families can build full, vibrant lives with access to medical care, emergency response, water solutions, parks, playgrounds, jobs, and economic opportunity. Working with our donors and partners, we support underpopulated communities, help attract new residents, improve quality of life, and create the conditions for long-term growth. Our work reaches beyond projects on the ground. Through education, travel, and leadership opportunities, we connect Americans of all ages to Israel in meaningful and lasting ways. That vision continues with the World Zionist Village in Be’er Sheva, a global center that will bring people together to live, learn, lead, and strengthen the next generation of Zionist leadership. From urgent relief to long-term transformation, Jewish National Fund-USA is helping build a stronger future for Israel and creating lasting legacies for generations to come. Learn more at jnf.org.
