SAN DIEGO, Calif., September 11, 2026 — On September 10, 2026, a day before the 25th anniversary of 9/11, Jewish National Fund-USA partnered with Chabad Hebrew Academy 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 unbreakable 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.
Kayla Globerson, Jewish National Fund-USA Senior Campaign Executive, San Diego and JNFuture, presenting at the "Shared Values: Honoring our Heroes" program at Chabad Hebrew Academy.
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.
"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 September 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.
Keren Bradshaw, Senior Educator at Chabad Hebrew Academy and Kayla Globerson, Jewish National Fund-USA Senior Campaign Executive, San Diego and JNFuture with students and first responders during the ceremony.
“We expressed our heartfelt gratitude to first responders, firefighters, and security personnel for their courage, dedication, and service,” 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.
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.
###
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.
