Honoring First Jewish Medal of Honor Recipient

By Richard Goldenberg

New York Army National Guard Soldiers associated with the Jewish War Veterans joined local Jewish leaders to recognize the first Jew to receive the Medal of Honor.

The short ceremony at Cypress Hill Cemetery in Brooklyn on May 21 honored Private Benjamin Levy, who was recognized for his heroic actions in combat on June 30, 1862.

New York Army National Guard Col. Richard Goldenberg, assigned to the state headquarters, Chaplain (Maj.) Raziel Amar, chaplain for the 501st Ordnance Battalion, and New York Guard Capt. Mark Getman, part of the state defense force, helped render honors to Levy.

Levy, who was a 17-year-old drummer boy, picked up the flag of the 1st New York Volunteer Infantry under a hail of enemy fire and rallied his regiment, preventing a retreat. He received the Medal of Honor in March 1865 and died at age 76 in July 1921.

Rabbi Irv Elson and Col. Richard Goldenberg

The Jewish Community Centers Association of North America and the Jewish Welfare Board Jewish Chaplains Council sponsored this commemoration.

“With Memorial Day coming upon us, we wanted to gather here at the site of one of New York’s earliest Medal of Honor recipients, to recognize his bravery and the sacrifice of so many other American service members that followed,” said Vice President and Director of the Jewish Welfare Board Jewish Chaplains Council, retired U.S. Navy Chaplain (Capt.) Rabbi Irv Elson.

President and CEO of the JCC Association of North America Doron Krakow said Levy influenced future generations.

“Firsts matter a great deal, as without them we can never know those that follow,” Krakow said. “Our presence today, here at the gravesite of Benjamin Levy, is an opportunity to remember all of the members of our community who have given heir lives in the service of our country.”
A color guard from the New York Army National Guard’s 107th Military Police Company also volunteered to take part in the ceremony.

Levy’s actions were significant because during the Civil War a regimental flag, or colors, had tactical as well as ceremonial significance. The flag marked the regiment’s line in battle. Soldiers looked for the colors to see where they should be. The most senior sergeant had the job of protecting the flag. The enemy concentrated its fire on the sergeant holding the flag. If he went down and the colors fell, it could cause troops to retreat.

Levy picked up the flag that day, after 15 members of the color guard were killed or wounded.

Levy, born in 1845 in New York City, enlisted in the Union Army in October 1861. Only 16 at the time, Levy and his younger brother, Robert, volunteered to serve as drummers, Benjamin with the 1st New York Volunteer Infantry and Robert with the 7th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment.

“Levy was the child of immigrants,” Goldenberg said, “and like so many New Yorkers of his time and now ours, he volunteered to serve his family’s adopted country in a time of crisis.”

“It’s fitting that today we honor Levy with a color guard, the symbol of service that he selflessly braved Confederate fire to save from capture and use to rally his regiment,” Goldenberg said.

In June of 1862, Levy’s regiment arrived to reinforce the Army of the Potomac just after the Battle of Fair Oaks, which was fought May 31 to June 1, 1862. On the morning of June 30, while the regiment formed for muster, the Confederates attacked. The 1st New York ran to the action. Levy, whose drum was broken, grabbed the musket of his ill tent mate, Jacob Turnbull, and joined the fight.

Passing through dense woods, the regiment moved to ambush the flank of approaching Confederate forces. However, the enemy moved on the New York Volunteers from another direction and the Battle of Glendale began around 3 p.m.

In less than ten minutes, four color sergeants and eleven corporals comprising the color guard all fell to intense fire. Only one escaped, the remainder killed or wounded in less than ten minutes.

Levy saw his color bearer, Charley Mahorn, fall from a bullet wound. Levy charged ahead and picked up the unit colors to rally his regiment in defense until relieved by other Union forces.

At the end of the fight, 230 1st New York Soldiers were killed, wounded, or missing; a quarter of the men who went into action.

The citation says Levy exhibited “extraordinary heroism …. and when the Color Bearers were shot down, carried the colors and saved them from capture.”

After his initial two-year service, Levy reenlisted in January 1864 and was severely wounded in the thigh during the Battle of the Wilderness, receiving a discharge due to disability in May 1865.

Rabbi Amar provided traditional Hebrew memorial prayers and the group then placed stones on the gravesite.

“We thought the stones, as a more traditional act in the Jewish faith, were more appropriate than a wreath,” Elson said.

Sgt. Letty Luiz, the noncommissioned officer in charge of the color guard, then provided a rendition of taps.

“It was really fun participating in this,” Luiz said. “Our company just held a uniform inspection this past weekend for drill, so we were able to come up with the volunteers and I’m glad we did.”

To end the ceremony, Krakow intoned the traditional Hebrew message for mourners: “Baruch Dayan Emet” which means “Blessed is the True Judge” and acknowledges “God’s plan for all.”

Then, he added, “And God Bless America.”

Volume 75. Number 2. 2021

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Repairing Our Bridges

By Rabbi Elie Estrin

We are entering into a period known as the three weeks, which is the time between the anniversary of the breach of the walls of Jerusalem and the eventual destruction of the Temple. Our Sages tell us that the destruction of the Temple was the result of baseless hatred, and the history of the period bears that out. In short, there were several political camps at the time, pacifists, fanatic nationalists, and moderates. When the dialogue between them broke down, so did any chance of resolving the issues, and the result was disastrous.

But when considering that history, one may question why the Sages describe this as baseless hatred? After all, these were opinions based in clear views, each with their intellectual grounding. It would only make sense that all involved would be at odds, and even vehemently so, considering the desperate circumstances. Can that be considered baseless hatred?

As I reflect on this story and its eternal relevance to us, I think we have neglected the second word in the statement, hatred. Once the parties were split in hatred, they became completely dysfunctional. Vehemence, passion, and fiery dialogue is understandable, but when we descend into hatred of the other side of our own team, we’re in big trouble. Ultimately, any such self-inflicted injury has no excuse. It is truly baseless. Blame who you want, but once the Temple is afire, all the finger-pointing is irrelevant.

It is clear our country needs to take the lessons of this history to heart, and fast. Even worse, our Jewish community and its leadership has allowed the circumstances to drive deep wedges between us. Left, right, and moderates are no longer on talking terms, and anti-Semites have crawled out of their holes to take advantage of the breaches. As veterans, we know we need to step up when the time calls for it. Now is the time for us to urgently repair those bridges and create unity despite differences of opinion. Let us stand up with Jewish pride and strength, and arm-in-arm declare openly and clearly: Am Yisrael Chai!

Rabbi Estrin is a chaplain with the rank of Captain-Promotable in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, attached to the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base. In his civilian job, Estrin serves as the Military Personnel Liaison for the Aleph Institute, providing chaplains and Jewish service members with religious support, and is the editor of the Jewish-American Warrior magazine, as well as the author of a just-published book, “Of Medicine, Miracles and Mindsets,” released by Mosaica Press.

Volume 75. Number 2. 2021

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Gratitude

By COL Herb Rosenbleeth, USA (Ret.), National Executive Director

As my retirement approaches, there are many people to thank. I have been blessed to know so many truly wonderful people! I have lots and lots of good memories for and much gratitude to the Jewish War Veterans of the USA. Being a staff member of JWV has been a huge honor!

Each and every member of JWV since I started here has my highest thanks and appreciation. Every single one of you has been and remains vitally important. Both those who are active and those who are not.

My sincere thanks to each of the National Commanders under whom I have served. You have each been unique, yet you all had a few things in common. You cared deeply for all veterans, and you cared deeply for JWV and for our museum. Each one of you was dedicated to your position as NC. And a number of you have continued to serve JWV and the museum. My gratitude and pride to each of you!

To those who served, and to those who are serving as Post and Department Commanders, and to those who served in post and department staff positions, I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation.

My very special thanks and appreciation to Congressman Ben Gilman, who served as JWV’s Legislative Chairman for many years. The Honorable Mr. Gilman, a combat veteran of World War II, and his staff, always had their doors open for me. Other members of Congress whom JWV could always count on were Senators Arlen Specter and Joe Lieberman, and Congressmen Mike Bilirakis, Lane Evans, Tim Walz, and Bob Filner.

JWV’s support for the head of the VA to be a cabinet level position and Rep. Ed Derwinski becoming the first Secretary of the VA will always be in my memory. We were involved!

Each annual national convention that I attended was a wonderful experience! I used to be able to name each city and the year and visualize something from each one. Now, although the various conventions run together in my mind, I have many, many fantastic memories from our conventions. My brother, Sam, a member of Post 373 in Tampa, has been with us for the last dozen or so conventions, which has meant the world to me. And, having our sister, Lea, an Auxiliary member, join Sam and I a few times, was icing on the cake!

To the 25 plus members of Congress whom we honored at our extremely popular Congressional Receptions, beginning with Chairman Sonny Montgomery of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, we had an excellent array of congressional honorees. Many attendees from other veteran organizations and military associations enjoyed our lively receptions!

Along with our receptions, we started our Capitol Hill Action Days in the early 1990s. JWV members could be seen all over Capitol Hill! We wore our caps with great pride! Most of our Departments were solidly involved.

I am grateful for each Veterans Day and Memorial Day which I attended at Arlington National Cemetery. My favorite was the Veterans Day marking JWV’s 100th Anniversary at which JWV was the host organization. NC Bob Zweiman gave a rousing speech, and the entire amphitheater gave Zweiman a standing ovation!

Knowing three recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor has been a special privilege. Jack Jacobs and I have a mutual friend, Major General Stanley Hyman, whom Jack knew from the Army and with whom I was friends during college. Stan got us together and knowing Jacobs has been a distinct honor and pleasure. Tibor Rubin was singularly honored at the first National Commander’s banquet I ever attended. Seventeen years later, in 2005, Rubin was finally awarded the Medal of Honor he so rightly deserved for heroism in Korea. A wonderful guy! VFW Executive Director Bob Wallace introduced me to John Levitow, who immediately said, “I’m Jewish, my name is Levitow, I am a Levite.”

The Military Coalition (TMC) holds a special place in my heart. Colonel (USAF, Ret) Paul Arcari, with whom I had served in the Pentagon, and Sergeant Major (USMC, Ret) Mack McKinney, brought JWV into the Coalition. I am grateful to have worked with a host of truly outstanding men and women, to have served on the Taxes and Social Security Committee, as a Co-Chair of the influential Membership and Nominations Committee, and very honored to have been elected a couple of times to be the President of the Coalition’s Board of Directors. I am grateful to have been JWV’s representative at the Coalition.

I will be forever grateful to four outstanding chaplains, Colonel (USA, Ret) Sandy Dresin, Captain (USN, Ret) Irv Elson, Colonel (USA, Ret) Jacob Goldstein, and Captain (USN, Ret) Bruce Kahn. Each one is a long-time member of JWV and each one has helped us over the years. Four remarkable people!

Five trips to Israel will always stick in my memory – twice on my own and three times on trips with JWV. Each JWV Mission is especially embedded in my mind. I am thankful for the opportunities to visit Israel.

I am most grateful to our staff members, past and present, with whom I have served. Especially to our present staff! Each of our present staff stuck with us throughout the entire pandemic! The JWV office was covered and, when permitted by the DC government, the museum was open to the public. Very few organizations were able to maintain their personnel during the pandemic. Special recognition goes to Director of Operations Greg Byrne, Director of Accounting Julia Lasher, Executive Assistant Christy Turner, Assistant to the Director of Operations Melody Jackson, and Membership Assistant Andria Clarke, our longest serving staff members. Kudos also to our Director of Communications Iryna Apple, and to our museum staff Pam Elbe and Mike Rugel. And many, many thanks to each of the more recent members of the staff.

Special recognition goes to my mentor of many years, JWV icon PNC Bob Zweiman, and to my hero, PNC Norman Rosenshein, who faces and overcomes adversity while keeping his warm smile. Norman’s creativity, excellent judgement, and steady determination make him a great leader! I salute Bob Zweiman and Norman Rosenshein!

Last, but most certainly not least, my appreciation, gratitude, and love go to my wife, Francie, for her 24 years of putting up with me and the Jewish War Veterans! Francie is a member of the Ladies Auxiliary and participated with me at our conventions. Thank you, Francie!

Volume 75. Number 2. 2021

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A Jewish Voice for Veterans and a Veteran’s Voice for Jews

By Colonel Nelson L. Mellitz, USAF, Retired

The number of military members and veterans in the United States is made up of approximately 18 million men and women or 0.055% of the total U.S. population of 330 million. Estimates indicate there are 270,000 living Jewish men and women who are serving or have served in a U.S. military uniformed service since 1941. These are estimated numbers because military and veterans do not have to identify their religion to perform their duty or get services from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

While the current U.S. military population is roughly 84% male, the gender mix is quickly changing. According to recent U.S. Census Bureau information, the number of women in the military and female veterans will likely double in the next two decades. The Jewish military and veteran community are expected to follow this same growth pattern – just look at the JWV Gulf War and Post-9/11 committees’ demographics, which have increasing numbers of Jewish women as members. All military members and veterans have shared needs and individual challenges that must be considered in making future JWV policy and program decisions.

Throughout the 125-year history of JWV, we have endorsed initiatives designed to improve the lives of millions of Jewish and non-Jewish military members and veterans. For example, we have initiated and supported programs and legislation to improve the quality of healthcare for military members, veterans, and their families, addressed the challenges of homelessness and veterans’ suicide, as well as veterans’ exposure to toxins (i.e. Agent Orange, Burn Pits, radiation, contaminated drinking water).

Over many decades JWV members have originated, endorsed, and implemented a substantial number of initiatives that have improved the lives and families of Jewish and non-Jewish military members and veterans. In 2020, JWV started the process to modernize and update its commitment to the military and veteran communities by drafting a strategic plan for the future of JWV. This plan will serve as a comprehensive blueprint to strengthen support of all who have put on the U.S. military uniform and their families. As part of the strategic plan, we have committed to a number of initiatives that will make measurable contributions and improvements to our members and the organization’s effectiveness. The strategic plan is a living document which we hope to present to members at our National Convention in August.

We trace our roots back to 1896 when Jewish Civil War veterans met in New York City to form an organization to fight the anti-Semitic false and statement that Jews do not serve. In developing the strategic plan, we recognize that JWV must continuously adapt to better serve the changing needs of our communities. JWV leadership knows that our next 125 years are not guaranteed. If we unite to meet the challenges of the men and women who have and are serving, we will continue to prosper as the leading Jewish military and veteran service organization. All Jewish men and women who have served and sacrificed to preserve our freedom and way of life have earned our continued support. Medal of Honor recipient Colonel Jack Jacobs titled his book “If Not Now When?” Perhaps JWV can also say if we don’t change now, when?

Volume 75. Number 2. 2021

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Take Care Of Our Members

By PNC Dr. Barry J. Schneider

I want to share with you an unfortunate situation concerning a fellow JWV member, Norm Wiener of Philadelphia. He lived alone in a Jewish Federation senior living unit and had no family or close friends. He was an active member of his post and had served as Post Commander. Some of you may remember him from when he joined us on the Israel trip during my time as National Commander. Dr. Michael Kapin of Fort Worth also went on that trip, and developed an ongoing friendship with Wiener which lasted until his death. The two communicated almost weekly, but that stopped abruptly after the first of the year. In the weeks leading up to Wiener’s death, Kapin and I tried to find out why Wiener was not answering calls and then his phone was disconnected. We enlisted JWV members from Philadelphia to assist in figuring out what was wrong. His housing unit, due to the privacy act, refused to provide any information. Lapin contacted the Philadelphia police and asked them to do a health and welfare check. This yielded no information. It turned out Wiener died alone on February 13. No one claimed his body and he was buried on March 29. This is unacceptable within JWV and the larger Jewish community. We have a responsibility to support our fellow veterans. I am asking you not to let this happen again. Let’s all reach out to our fellow post members. To our Post Officers, I ask you to develop a call tree, not just for meetings, but to ensure our members are not forgotten in their time of need. It is our moral obligation to care for one another. To our active-duty members, I ask you every now and then, or at least once a year, send an email or call a post officer and let them know where you are.

May Wiener’s memory be for a blessing and a reminder that we are Kol Israel, one people!

Volume 75. Number 2. 2021

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Circle of Heroes Scuba Dive

By Larry Jasper

About 11 miles off the coast of Clearwater, Florida in the Gulf of Mexico sits 12, six-foot-high concrete depictions of our military. Each represents a different war, a different role, and a different hero. Each weigh 1,200 pounds, assuring it will stay where intended. It is called the Circle of Heroes (The Circle).

Dedicated on August 5, 2019, The Circle is the first underwater military memorial in the U.S. While it serves as a recreational dive site with a depth of 40 – 45 feet, the vision is to use the site for adaptive sports therapy programs for disabled veteran divers. This would provide physical and mental health therapy for veterans who participate in scuba diving rehabilitation.

The statues are placed in a circle with a center monument of five bronze emblems representing each of the U.S. Armed Forces.
At the 2019 convention in Richmond, Virginia, the idea to dive The Circle first came up in conversation between myself and Director of the Jewish Welfare Board (JWB) Chaplains Council, Rabbi Irv Elson, who is also a retired Navy Captain with service in Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
The dive plan also included Elson’s longtime friend and Gulf War Veteran, Rabbi Ammos Chorny from Naples, Florida. All three of us have over 45 years of diving experience.

While planning this dive, Elson said he was, “always in search of new and meaningful ways to honor our Veterans and remember those who have paid the ultimate price in defense of our country.” He felt a dive to this most sacred place would be a unique opportunity.

After two unsuccessful attempts due to storms, we were finally able to dive on May 6, 2021. During the dive, a wreath of shells and JWB coin were placed at the foot of one of the statues.

A simple scuba dive helped cement a relationship between two organizations.

The JWB, which is 104-years-old, considers itself to be JWV’s younger sibling. Elson has worked to grow and strengthen the bonds between the two organizations by promoting joint ceremonies, combined advocacy on issues, and joint programming.

“While JWB Jewish Chaplains Council works with our Jewish service members, we proudly hand them off to JWV as they transition to civilian lives, officially becoming veterans,” said Elson.

We hope to make this dive an annual event. If you are a certified diver and interested in participating in the future, please contact Larry Jasper at lmjasper@reagan.com. For more information about the memorial, visit https://brighterfutureflorida.org.

Volume 75. Number 2. 2021

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Final Account

By Ben Kane

“Final Account” begins with a quote from Holocaust survivor Primo Levi. The quote does an exceptional job of summarizing the message of the film. “Monsters exist, but they are too few in number to be truly dangerous. More dangerous are the common men, the functionaries ready to believe and to act without asking questions.”

The movie explores the formative years and then the wartime positions held by those interviewed throughout the movie. Many of them were members of the Waffen SS, the military wing of the SS, an organization consisting of the most ardent Nazi fanatics. According to historical records, the military wing of the SS, unsurprisingly, had vast numbers of perpetrators within their ranks. It would be difficult for any member of the Waffen SS to consider themselves innocent, but that does not stop several interviewees from trying.

As the film unfolds, several former Nazi military personnel explain how they do not consider themselves perpetrators. The individuals claim they were “swept up” in a movement and “forced to obey orders.” They said not doing so would put them at risk. It is important to note that there are virtually no instances of a Nazi servicemember being punished for choosing not to partake in genocidal acts. Take the story of the Polish Reserve Police Battalion 101. The individuals in this group were given the chance to opt out of carrying out an act of genocide. Few refused, but those who did were not punished. One former member of the Waffen SS also corroborated the idea of a slim risk of punishment for those who refused, saying that during his time in the SS, as far as he could tell, “nobody walked away.”

There is certainly truth in their arguments of being swept up in the movement. “Final Account” does an excellent job exploring the myriad of ways citizens were brainwashed to hate. The brainwashing started at a very young age and continued ceaselessly through the years. Interviewees explained how as children, they learned the alphabet with horrific caricatures of Jews drawn beside each letter. Anti-Semitic films were shown at even the most remote villages. Marching songs, flashy outfits and rituals, and summer camps, further solidified the Nazi party as the party to join in the eyes of the impressionable youth. They were taught from birth there were those unworthy of life, and by the time a Nazi youth wielded the power of life and death as a soldier, few hesitated in using force to remove from society those they were taught were poisoning it.

Some interviewees claimed that not only did they not partake in genocidal acts, but they didn’t even know they were going on. Others admitted they did not agree with the murders but would have carried them out if asked. Conveniently, and rather miraculously, very few of the interviewed Waffen SS members seemed to be involved firsthand with any genocidal actions. Some interviewees, mostly those working office jobs or who were young members of the women’s organizations, likely didn’t carry out acts of genocide themselves, but they knew about it, and didn’t hesitate to tell that to the filmmakers.

It would be easy to direct attention to the interviewee who said Hitler was not in the wrong. That he still honors Hitler. He is shown, and it is good that he was. He serves as a warning to the viewer that some of those involved in the Holocaust were, up until their dying day, proud of their role in it. That hatred is still within the hearts of many.

But the time was instead better spent with one particularly regretful member of the Waffen SS. The film shows his conversation with a class of students, held where the Wannsee Conference took place. That 1942 conference officially determined the unfortunate fate of European Jewry. Their faces are blurred, and the comments of one young man in particular are hostile and biting. The student says he was surprised that the former SS member was “ashamed to be standing up for the fatherland” and that he “makes it seem like I should be ashamed to be German.” He also says the man “should be more afraid of some Albanian stabbing you than your fellow Germans.”

Following these remarks and others that downplayed the severity of the Holocaust, the interviewee gets emotional. He condemns the student for not showing his face and says “I belonged to a murderous organization. What else was it? We carried out murder to perfection, planned at a table like this over coffee, we decided how women and children would be killed. We cannot be proud of that… do not let yourself be blinded.”

The room fell silent. Silent just long enough for the viewer to find hope. To find hope that those led astray by even the darkest hatred can someday fight for humanity instead of against it.

Volume 75. Number 2. 2021

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JWV Urges Biden Administration to Move Quickly on Afghan Translators

The Jewish War Veterans urges the Biden administration to quickly determine the fate of Afghan translators who worked for the United States.

Although the administration has said it is working on a plan, the longer it takes, the more dangerous it will become for those interpreters as the U.S. continues pulling troops out of the country.

President Biden must make arrangements for all of the translators to leave Afghanistan on or before August 31, which is the date all U.S. troops are expected to be out of the country.

Real Americans don’t leave their allies behind.

 

About Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America
Founded in 1896, the Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America is the oldest active veterans’ organization in America. JWV is dedicated to upholding America’s democratic traditions and fighting bigotry, prejudice, injustice, and discrimination of all kinds. As a national organization, JWV represents the voice of America’s Jewish veterans on issues related to veterans’ benefits, foreign policy, and national security. JWV also commits itself to the assistance of oppressed Jews worldwide.

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