He Escaped From the 78th Floor on 9/11

He Escaped From the 78th Floor on 9/11

Author: Meaningful Minute September 9, 2026 Duration: 1:05:19

As we mark 25 years since September 11, we're revisiting Ari Schonbrun's extraordinary story of survival. Ari worked for Cantor Fitzgerald on the 101st floor of the World Trade Center's North Tower. A series of seemingly ordinary delays left him running late that morning, placing him on the 78th floor when the first plane struck. Thrown to the ground by the impact and surrounded by smoke, fire, and chaos, Ari began searching for a way out.

That search brought him to Virginia, a severely burned coworker who begged him not to leave her. Ari made her a promise and helped her down dozens of flights of stairs, refusing to abandon her even as they fought to escape with their lives. In this deeply moving conversation, Ari recounts the decisions, strangers, and extraordinary moments of Divine Providence that led them out of the tower, and how surviving September 11 forever changed his faith, his priorities, and the way he understands why he was spared.

 

Timestamps:

0:00 Intro

1:04 Not Taught in School

4:50 A Beautiful Tuesday Morning

11:25 First Plane Hits

14:08 A Woman Screaming for Help

17:03 Finding a Way Out

19:04 A Phone Call in the Stairwell

21:36 Is There a Paramedic in the Building?

25:32 Finds Out it's a Terrorist Attack

29:20 Breaking Down in His Brother's Arms

32:38 Go Hug the People You Love

34:40 Twenty People, A Hundred Messages

35:45 Daddy's Got to Work

38:00 One Mitzvah at a Time

43:33 Only Four Survived

47:20 The Smoky Taste the Next Morning

50:44 Find Your Mission

57:33 Can You Come In at 11?

59:30 Cantor Fitzgerald's Promise

1:01:19 Whispers and Bricks


Every week, Nachi and Momo sit down for a conversation that feels more like a discovery than an interview. Their Meaningful People podcast explores the journeys of fascinating individuals from across the Jewish world, though you don't need to be Jewish to find their stories compelling. These are artists, educators, thinkers, and community builders-people whose lives are driven by purpose. Each episode delves into the personal turning points, challenges, and inspirations that shaped them, moving beyond public personas to reveal the real human experience behind them. You’ll hear conversations that are as likely to be funny and lighthearted as they are profound and reflective, offering a genuine sense of connection. This isn't about abstract ideas, but about the lived wisdom that comes from a life examined. Tune in for a weekly dose of perspective that feels both uplifting and grounding, a reminder of the diverse paths that lead to a meaningful life. From Meaningful Minute, this podcast sits at the unique intersection of spirituality, self-improvement, and education, all through the power of personal narrative.
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