I will share that we got calls all day until the wee hours of the morning and even the following day from the firm trying to locate its employees and check if they’d survived.
It was surreal.
I’ve just read that calamities only come to the world because of the Yidden (Yevamos 63a). Rashi there explains that Yidden should see past the catastrophes and become FEARFUL of what aveiros cause and do tshuva.
The WTC fell during Elul, Hurricane Katrina was in Elul, and Irene came up the NE coast during Rosh Chodesh Elul bentching.
We also had a summer with the ptiras of three gedolim, two murders (a young child’s murder and a rav), and more attacks in E”Y.
Hashem is showing us how people act when confronted with serious stuff. Those who are afraid are running around and looking for solutions (as with the coming hurricane). They do not wait for the last minute and rush to get some needed supplies.
Then there are those who pretend that nothing is happening may choose to do nothing or just go watch the storm, denying the danger.
Rosh Hashana is quickly approaching and we should not wait till the last minute to prepare.
We were given the tools, tshuva, tfilla and tzedaka.
And we were given the time, a whole Elul.
Let’s get ready. (Rav Pinchos Lipschutz)