Who shall live and who shall die

On September 11, 2009, Pamela Geller of Atlas Shrugs devoted her postings to links, articles and videos that showed the true extent of the horror that befell America eight years earlier. She didn't turn the day into a day of interfaith prayer of peace and friendship, but, rather, detailed the horror of what some individuals belonging to the religion of peace wrought on innocent people and the surviving family members of the victims.
The first link below shows the crashing of the planes into the Twin Towers and the horrible scenes of people jumping to their deaths. The second link is about surviving family member stories and the last phone calls that were made by the victims. We hear about a man who met his death as he went to clear his office on September 11, 2001, because he had just received a promotion and would be moving to new quarters shortly thereafter. We hear about a woman who had flown into New York for one day to complete merger talks on one of the higher floors of the Twin Towers. We hear a loyal friend talking to a man requesting instructions as to how to proceed.
When I listened to the stories of the victims, the words of the High Holiday prayer U'Netaneh Tokef took an an extra added urgency.

On Rosh Hashanah it is inscribed,
And on Yom Kippur it is sealed.
How many shall pass away and how many shall be born,
Who shall live and who shall die,
Who shall reach the end of his days and who shall not,
Who shall perish by water and who by fire...
But repentance, prayer and righteousness avert the severe decree.

During the ten days of repentance, we recite various extra prayers in the Shemoneh Esrei. We ask G-d to remember us for life and to inscribe us in the book of life. After watching and listening to the videos, I know that my prayers will be more fervent as I recite these words, knowing that it could all be over, in the blink of an eye or in the seconds of a plane crash.

Asaf Ramon, the son of Ilan Ramon, died in a plane crash today. Baruch Dayan Emet.

http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/2009/09/911-.html

http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/2009/09/911-phone-calls.html