Attendees: Nelson Mellitz, NJ, GWOT Committee Chairman; NC Larry Schulman, NY; Jerry Abrams, FL; Josephine Anton, FL; Ray Biondo, AR; Mel Brody, SW; Jesse Gersten, SW; Jack Lewis, NY; Ira Novoselsky, MA; Jacob Romo, MA; PNC Norman Rosenshein, NJ; Richard Rosenzweig, DC; Steve Rosmarin, CA; Debby Stern, FL; Helene Van Clief, NY
Staff: NED Herb Rosenbleeth; Larry Richardson; Mrs. Bailor; Greg Byrne
Subject: Global War on Terrorism
- From August to December, the GWOT Committee believes it has contacted every Jewish troop in Iraq and Afghanistan who wants to be publicly identified as Jewish.
- Cards and letters from schoolchildren were sent out to at least 53 individuals.
- JWV has gotten at least 15 new members as a result of this outreach.
- The Pentagon does not keep statistics on religious affiliation, so it’s difficult to identify Jewish soldiers.
- The rabbi at McGuire AFB is leaving for Dubai soon and will remain in contact with JWV to help us identify more Jewish service members.
- A preliminary GWOT website should be completed by the end of next week for review by National Headquarters. We hope to have the final version of the website ready by the NEC.
- The GWOT Committee would like to have a contact in each department, preferably a member who served in the GWOT.
- Members need to help JWV identify Jewish service members in Iraq and Afghanistan.
- Ask your rabbi if any members of the synagogue are deployed.
- Please let the GWOT Committee know if you have contact information for a Jewish service member.
