Abraham Zelmanowitz (also known as Abe, Avrame, and Avremel) was an Orthodox Jew who worked as a computer programmer for Empire Blue Cross and Blue Shield on the 27th floor of Tower One of the World Trade Center in New York City. Zelmanowitz died in the attacks of September 11, 2001.One of his best friends was co-worker and fellow computer programmer Ed Beyea, who was a quadriplegic. With the elevators not working after the attack, Beyea had no way of getting out. Rather than go down the stairs and try to save himself, Zelmanowitz chose to stay with his friend, and presumably comfort him until the bitter end (many believe they prayed together during those final moments as well; as Beyea was a devout Roman Catholic).Zelmanowitz called his family on his cell phone, telling them he was OK, and insisting that he would stay by Beyea’s side, though his mother and brother pleaded with him to get out. This was done in spite of the fact that Judaism rejects the notion of giving one’s life simply to comfort a fellow human being.
President Bush described Mr. Zelmanowitz’s actions, staying with a paralyzed friend, as one of the true acts of heroism of that day. All of us realize that at some point, Abe must have known that he was going to die. He sent away his friend’s aide when she was unable to breathe, so he must have realized what his fate would be. He made a conscious decision to remain at his friend’s side — to give up his chance of survival, in order to do what most of us, admittedly, could not do.
