Abraham Zelmanowitz

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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 the World Trade Center in New York City. His unusual act of martyrdom during the September 11 terrorist attacks became a legend of the tragedy and was used by President George W. Bush in a speech to Congress to help rally the country for the coming retaliatory invasion of Afghanistan.

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 fairly devout Catholic). He 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; however, some observers say that Zelmanowitz may not have realized his life was in danger until it was too late and was simply waiting for himself and Beyea to be rescued. Nonetheless, Zelmanowitz's decision to stay with his gentile friend was hailed within both American society at large and by the Jewish community in general.

The story is one of several vignettes interwoven throughout "September 11, 2001: Profiles in Heroism," a 26-minute documentary about the September 11 attacks that looks at the tragedy through the eyes of several Orthodox Jews.