23 Elul - September 11th's Other Date

Seven years ago today, a shemitta cycle ago, Yishmael attacked Edom, and gave it its most devastating blow to date. As with many of the battles of these warring peoples, Jews got killed in the attack, were mentioned as the reason for the attack, and were even blamed for the attack.

Let those who perished in the attack be remembered for a blessing.

As you know, however, that infamous day in history is not the end of the war. It's just the beginning.

As with the attack that happened 7 years ago, 23 Elul this year falls out on a Tuesday.
And just as an attack occurred on Elul 23, 5761, an attack occurred in Yerushalayim near Sha'ar Yafo on Elul 23, 5768.

בכל דור ודור עומדים עלינו לכלותינו והקדוש ברוך הוא מצילנו מידם

On Elul 23, 5768, the president of Iran, ימ"ש, will be addressing the U.N. Some opinions hold that the war of Gog Umagog will last 7 years, based on Yehezkel 39:9. Likely scenarios dictate that the end of the war will be with Iran (see Yalkut Shimoni - Remez 499 - and Yoma 10, for example). If this is true, and if the war started Elul 23, 5761, it ends Elul 23, 5768. Some say that it really started on Hoshana Rabba, 5762, when U.S.-led coalition forces attacked the Taliban - as that was the real start of the war. Either way, expect interesting things to happen soon.

See here and here for more.