Terror In Black September

Terror In Black September


I came across the very fascinating book "Terror in Black September" by David Raab. This book was published in 2007, 37 years after the famous hijackings of airplanes to Amman, Jordan.

The author (also a captive) went to great lengths to recapture the trauma and history of the entire process of the captives who waited out the 3 week process amidst the civil war raging in Jordan.

While we all know that the story had a happy ending, what I find remarkable is the amount of "talent" on the plane. Rabbi Yitzchok Hutner, was the Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin. His proteje, Rabbi Yaakov Drillman went on to a distinguished career also at Chaim Berlin and then on to become Rosh Yeshiva of Novordok.

Rabbi Yonoson David, succeeded Rabbi Hutner as Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Pachad Yitzchok in Jerusalem. His wife, Bruriah, is the founder of the very successful BJJ seminary in Jerusalem.

Also on the plane were the Harari-Raful brothers, with Chacham Yosef going on to become a Rosh Yeshiva in the Brooklyn Sefardic community, and an esteemed member of the Moetzes Council of Torah Sages.

Rabbi Meir Fund is a renowned American rabbi, Kabbalist, and spiritual leader of Congregation Shevas Achim in Brooklyn, New York.

These are just a handful of the names that I recognized from the narrative. I am sure that the other passengers went on to successful careers, only that I am not familiar with them.

It is mind-boggling to think that all of these people might not have gone on to their respective positions. I wonder if the harrying episode might have propelled them to greatness.

Update: Matzav posted this summary of the book today.
Terror in Black September summary