33rd Allied Mission Trip to Israel

By Selina Kanowitz and Gary Ginsburg

Israel was magical, mystical, and enchanting! From April 20-30, we were honored to participate in the Jewish War Veterans 33rd Allied Mission to Israel with 41 other people.

Ginsburg and Kanowitz in the Dead Sea.

We had beautiful weather for our trip to the Dead Sea on Saturday, April 22. Many of us got to walk, talk, float, and splash around in the water at the lowest point on earth. This is probably the closest point on earth to hell. The bottom of the Dead Sea is very muddy in places, and we needed to be careful not to slip and fall.

Later that same day, we stopped at Masada where we were transported to the top by cable car. We were told that it would take several hours to climb to the top of Masada on the pathway. The view of the various camps in the ground and surrounding sights were incredible. Our guide Ronit told us about the various archeological structures and events which took place at Masada.
On Sunday we saw the Dead Sea Scrolls at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem.

“One of the many great points about the JWV Allied Mission to Israel is that we have access to sights and to Israelis that the average tourist does not,” said Past National Commander Harvey Weiner. In Latrun, we visited the Jewish WWII Museum of Heroes, which was not yet open to the public. We had a special tour led by the museum’s CEO, Retired Brigadier General Tzvika Kantor. The museum was still under construction when we had our tour, but it opened to the public in May.

NC Mellitz and Poppe placing memorial wreath.

On Monday, at our hotel, we received an outstanding unclassified briefing from U.S. Army Colonel Phil Messer, our military official assigned to the embassy. This presentation laser focused on the military relationship between the United States and Israel.

We also visited the National Memorial Museum for Israeli Fallen, which honors both military members and civilians.

Our next stop was Yad Vashem. We saw the children’s memorial which has been added to this memorial in Jerusalem. It is a room filled with stars symbolizing the 1.5 million Jewish children murdered in the 1930s and 1940s.

In the evening, we attended the Jewish National Fund (JNF) Yom Hazikaron Ceremony at Ammunition Hill, where we learned about the tactical battle there which led to the unification of Jerusalem in June of 1967. We met Tina Lamm, originally from Long Island, New York, whose husband works with Project Benjamin. Michael Levine, who runs the Lone Soldier Program, also spoke at the ceremony. His program supports about 1,800 IDF personnel who have enlisted from places around the world, but whose family has not officially relocated to Israel.

On Tuesday, we attended a memorial ceremony at the National Memorial Museum in Latrun. As part of the ceremony, National Commander Nelson Mellitz and JWV Massachusetts trip guest, retired Col. Cheryl Poppe laid a wreath at the wall which lists the names of fallen Israeli armor soldiers.

NC Mellitz and Gary Glick planting trees in the Lavi Forest.

At the start of Israel’s 75th Anniversary celebration on Tuesday night, we saw, felt, and heard the all-night party on the beachfront in Tel Aviv. There were quiet fireworks and children spraying silly string throughout the parks to celebrate Yom HaAtzmaut.

The Yom HaAtzmaut celebrations continued Wednesday. “Watching the Independence Day flyover by the Israeli Defense Forces on the beach in Tel Aviv was a thrill for me, being a U.S. Air Force veteran,” said trip participant Robert Newell of the American Legion. Newell went on the trip as a guest of the Department of New Jersey.

We took a bus tour to Jaffa to see many biblical sites, as well as a magnificent view of Tel Aviv.

JWV Members who participated in previous Sar-El Missions held a reunion overlooking the Seaport of Haifa, Israel. From left: NC Mellitz, Kathy Brill, PNC Harvey Weiner, and NVC Barry Lischinsky.

Thursday started with a visit to Tzevet, which is an Israeli veterans organization. The organization has approximately 40,000 members but is really for former career IDF personnel. We received a briefing from IDF General Ephraim Lapid (Israeli Intelligence) and his staff.

In Galilee, we planted trees in the Lavi Forest and were blessed that there was no rain at that special moment or 43 people would have been in the mud. This was a modest but positive contribution to the future of the modern state of Israel.

Friday saw our group in the Golan Heights. We learned about and saw evidence of the serious combat operations and armored warfare of the October 1973 conflict.

We arrived in Netanya on Saturday and visited Kibbutz Misgav Am, which is the northernmost Kibbutz in Israel. It was almost close enough to spit or urinate into Lebanon, but you need to check the wind direction first.

We visited the Bahai Gardens in Haifa and stopped in the ancient city of Akko, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

“COVID-19 delayed the 33rd JWV Mission to Israel for several years, but… it was worth the wait,” said Past National Commander Jeff Sacks. “I didn’t think that we could cover so much ground and experience as many things as we in fact did.”

JWV’s Allied Mission Trip to Israel is an unforgettable 10-day journey through the Jewish homeland that none of the participants will ever forget. We encourage all members, and members of our veteran community who are not Jewish to join us next time.

Volume 77. Number 2. 2023

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JWV Member Carries Piece of Unit’s History during Overseas Deployment

By Richard Goldenberg

One of JWV Post 105’s deployed members is carrying a unique item for a Jewish veteran serving overseas – a Christian crucifix.

The Kilmer crucifix, belonging to the famous poet Alfred Joyce Kilmer, is a historical artifact now in Africa with the 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment, of the New York National Guard. The battalion is on a nine-month overseas deployment to Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa.

New York Army National Guard Lt. Col. Shawn Tabankin, the 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment Commander carries the Kilmer crucifix.

“The Kilmer cross is one of the legends of the 69th,” Tabankin, a Clifton Park, New York resident said. “It is part of our history and part of our lineage.”

Kilmer rose to prominence as a writer and poet in the early 1900s. Kilmer enlisted in 1917 and served in the 69th during World War I.

On March 7, 1918, the 69th trench line positions in France were hit by German artillery, resulting in the collapse of a bunker. The attack buried 21 men and killed 19.

Kilmer memorialized the event with his now famous “Rouge Bouquet.” To this day the poem is read at every 69th Regiment memorial service.

On July 30, 1918, Kilmer was killed in action near the village of Seringes-et-Nesles, France during the Second Battle of the Marne. “Rouge Bouquet” was read aloud at his graveside service.
According to legend, Maj. William Donovan, then commander of the regiment, removed the crucifix from Kilmer after his death and carried it for the remainder of the war.

It is revered as one of the army unit’s most important relics.

Though the Kilmer crucifix is usually tucked safely inside a display case, the crucifix accompanies the unit on deployments overseas and is worn by the commander during the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and other key ceremonies.

While deployed to the Horn of Africa, Tabankin said he makes sure wherever a 69th Soldier was stationed, the Kilmer crucifix went there as well.

“It is important for us to maintain our traditions to the greatest extent possible, even while deployed,” Tabankin said. “Whenever I travel to any of the outstations, it comes with me. I’ll wear it again when we have our St. Patrick’s Day parade here in Djibouti.”

While Tabankin and his battalion were absent for their traditional leading spot in this year’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York City, his unit mirrored the celebration overseas at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, where the unit is currently headquartered.

Tabankin, an in-service member of the Jewish War Veterans Albany Post 105, realizes that while the demographics of the unit have changed over the years, its commitment to tradition hasn’t wavered.

“The 69th Infantry was formed by Irish immigrants who were predominantly Roman Catholic,” Tabankin said. “That was probably the dominant religion in the regiment for decades.”

“Today, we are obviously much more diverse and reflect the population of New York City,” he said.

Volume 77. Number 2. 2023

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A Day of Honor

By Greg Lee

The Jewish War Veterans Department of California partnered with the American Legion and the Los Angeles County Department of Mil-Vet Affairs to host an event honoring Medal of Honor recipients at Bob Hope Patriotic Hall on April 11.

The featured guest was Medal of Honor recipient, Colonel Jack Jacobs, a JWV life member.

The event began with a roundtable featuring Jacobs, JWV National Commander Nelson Mellitz, and others from the military and veteran communities. They discussed the needs of minority and female veterans and the challenge of homeless veterans.

Dr. Shad Meshad, founder of the National Veterans Foundation and the VA Vet Centers said, “Despite other factors including substance abuse and mental health, the one common denominator among homeless veterans is the lack of affordable housing.”

Dr. Steve Braverman, the Director of the VA’s Greater Los Angeles Veterans Medical Center said that when it comes to female veterans, “We have created dedicated women’s clinics, separate waiting areas, and even separate entrances to our facilities. We do not tolerate harassment of any of our patients, especially our women veterans.”

Mellitz spoke about the Jewish War Veterans and its fight against both bigotry and antisemitism.

After the roundtable, there was a ceremony honoring both Jacobs and another Medal of Honor recipient, Captain Ben Salomon. Jacobs unveiled a painting by artist David Schwartz which featured Salomon. The painting is the latest addition to a collection called “True Honor,” which features Jewish Medal of Honor recipients.

Congressman Brad Sherman presented Mellitz and Jacobs with American flags that were flown over the Capitol in Washington, D.C.

One highlight of the day was Jacobs administering the Oath of Enlistment to a new Army Recruit.

The positive response generated from this event has provided inspiration for similar events in selected cities across America.

Volume 77. Number 2. 2023

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Rosie The Riveter – The Jewish Connection

By NC Nelson Mellitz

At the start of World War II, U.S. labor leaders recognized there would be a great shortage of labor needed to meet the demand for production of war materials. While American men served overseas, womens support of the war effort was essential, and the most striking image advocating for women to join the war effort was Rosie the Riveter.

The Rosie of Norman Rockwell’s 1943 painting “Rosie the Riveter” has become a well-known symbol of women strength. That painting later became a poster, often accompanied by the statement, “We Can Do It!” Rockwell’s Rosie is a statuesque and powerful woman. Rosie is wearing denim coveralls and safety equipment used in her dangerous work. In real life, “Rosies” worked day and night shifts to meet the war needs and goals established by the generally male industrial plant supervisors and managers. Almost every civilian at the time knew a real-life Rosie and could identify with her commitment in manning the production lines.

Rockwell considered the Rosie in his portrait an idealized female war worker, painting her with bright red hair, carrying a heavy lunch pail while flexing her muscles. In 1943, the “Saturday Evening Post” magazine used the Rockwell painting on its cover. That solidified Rosie as a domestic icon in many American homes. Production effectiveness studies performed in 1943 and 1944 are often compared to after the war studies in 1946 and 1947 and they show that “Rosie/women were more productive than male counterparts in spite of her smaller stature.” “That little frail can do/More than a male can do.” However, after World War II, “Rosies” were told to return home, and men returning from the war replaced them on the production line. Thousands of women resisted, and by doing, may have led to the start of the second wave of the feminist movement.

Americans were reluctant to take sides in World War II until after the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Jewish Americans were less likely to be isolationist, especially as news of Nazi atrocities became public. After Pearl Harbor, popular culture focused on winning the war and women were encouraged to abandon the domestic roles and get to work in factories, mostly in manufacturing munitions and other supplies crucial to sustaining the war.

Jacob Moritz Loeb was a prominent Jewish businessman and philanthropist in Chicago. Loeb was a founder of the Chicago Hebrew Institute and served as vice-president of the Jewish Welfare Board (JWB), an organization that has met the needs of Jewish service members and veterans since the start of World War I and continuing today. His son, John Jacob Loeb, was an up-and-coming song writer and wrote “Rosie the Riveter’s” with his partner Redd Evans in 1942, which has an upbeat melody and lyrics. The Rosie the Riveter’s song would have been an unquestionable top 10 hit, if they had such a best seller listing at the time.

The Rosie the Riveter melody and lyrics does not reflect the fear American Jews and others had felt of Naziism, especially compared to the dire wartime works of Jewish artists like Ben Shahn and Arthur Szyk. Loeb made his depiction of Rosie in song lighthearted, but she is still out to crush the Axis. After the war, John Jacob Loeb continued to write songs, often co-authored with Carmen Lombardo, including “Seems Like Old Times” in 1945, which was revived by Diane Keaton in Woody Allen’s “Annie Hall.”

Rosie never retired in the minds of many Americans old and young. Today, when Rosie the Riveter is mentioned and her iconic picture is shown, it evokes an emotional recall to an era when Americans were fighting to preserve freedom and women were carving out a new role in the U.S. industrial factories. When Norman Rockwell decided to name his painting after Loeb and Evans song “Rosie the Riveter,” it was a tribute to the tough working girl.

Volume 77. Number 2. 2023

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Steve Falkowitz

By Larry Jasper, National Editor

Do you know what a patron is? Article V of our Constitution says “Any supporter of JWV that upholds, reflects, and pursues the values of JWV may become a Patron.” It is further stated that “Patrons are not members of JWV…”
So what is the motivation for a person to become a Patron? That question was answered by Steve Falkowitz of Post 373.

Falkowitz stated that his family has a history of service to our nation. He had three great-uncles who all served in World War II, he has cousins who served, and his father served for six years during the early years of the Vietnam War. He, however, did not serve.

Falkowitz became a patron because he was asked, just as his dad became a Life Member of JWV because he was asked. His dad was originally a member of Post 212 in Wilkes Barre, PA where he was also active in the Jewish Community and served as President of the local JCC.

Falkowitz’ s motivation for being a part of JWV was to give back to his community and nation for all it has given him. He believes in supporting his community and Jewish organizations and causes. His post actively supports the veterans at the local VA Hospital and other veterans’ organizations in the area. He said, “giving is a Jewish thing, it is Jewish to support your community and perform mitzvot.”

When first asked to become a patron he was reluctant as he did not serve. He wondered what he had to contribute. “I have no knowledge of the military,” he said. He felt being a part of the post was like “skipping the line.” That all quickly changed.

Upon becoming a patron he became involved in many post activities, including learning drill and ceremonies to participate in the post Color Guard. He has carried flags and performed rifle drills. He felt it was a true honor to carry the nation’s flag. He brought with him his skills as a graphic designer and almost immediately began helping with the monthly newsletter and other print matter. He currently serves as the Post Adjutant and has also become the Department Adjutant.

His wife Tracy also became a patron. Tracy is an attorney and serves as the Post Judge Advocate.

Falkowitz feels the JWV does so much good in giving back to other veterans and the community, a value his dad instilled in him at a young age. He has a great deal of love for his dad and brought him on board as a member of Post 373.

For Falkowitz it has become a family affair.

His aspirations are to see the country stick to its core principals. He feels it is time to bring the country back together and end the divisiveness.

A patron is someone who has not served in uniform, but wishes to serve those who served. Falkowitz is a fine example of what a patron should be.

Volume 77. Number 2. 2023

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The Blessing of the Curse

By Chaplain Captain Yitzchok Landa, USAF.

In the last edition of The Jewish Veteran, you read the D’vrei Hashomrim by Rabbi Doniel Kramer in which he provided thoughtful insights and observations about Pesach and the broken middle matzah.
Kramer pointed out that Pesach is an excellent opportunity to reconnect lost, disillusioned, or uneducated Jews with their heritage. What about Tisha b’Av?

Is there a way to connect those same individuals with the period of mourning, observed by Jews worldwide for centuries, which builds in intensity during the summer, beginning on the 17 of Tammuz (July 6, 2023) peaking on the Ninth of Av (Tisha b’Av, July 27, 2023)?

For too long, teachers and outreach directors have given up on programming for the Ninth of Av. It’s not fun, there is no intuitive attraction, and it appears to be unappealing. For many estranged Jews, the Tisha b’Av experience is precisely the kind of thing that repelled them from their heritage in the first place.

This is exactly why it is so important to use and understand the power and mission of this vital part of the Jewish calendar.

The traditional narrative of negativity surrounding the Ninth goes something like this: “Why does Judaism insist on romanticizing its own historical suffering? Why do we dwell and simmer in the pain of the past, broken-hearted over a building?” Invariably, such contemplation leads to: “Well, why did the Jewish people suffer so much, anyway? Where was G-d in the Holocaust?”

In truth, the message of this period of mourning is quite the opposite.

Certainly, we all feel the need to commemorate and memorialize that which is important to us. Recent losses are felt more acutely. The Department of Defense, the State of Israel, and many Jewish communities recognize the significance of Holocaust Remembrance Day, and mark it solemnly.

In truth, all our losses deserve equal recognition. The value of one life lost is infinite and can never be appropriately honored. The distance of time may dull our sensitivity, but it does not diminish the value. Were we to fittingly commemorate all of the litany of suffering inflicted upon us in our history, our calendar would be one large smudge of black ink.

Instead, we cram it all into one day. One day for all the suffering and pain to be mourned and marked. Traditional Judaism does not mark Holocaust Remembrance Day (for which the day of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising was chosen) but instead, marks it on the Ninth of Av.

We were never a people to stew in suffering, nor will we fail to honor the past. We mark it, but limit it to this day, leaving the rest of the calendar forward-looking and joyous. Why this day? The Ninth of Av was the cause of all the suffering that followed. It encapsulates the peak of our personal and communal spiritual illness, and the terrifying treatment of divine surgery that followed.

But there’s so much more. There is an underlying joy in the Ninth of Av.

The historical oppression of the Jewish People, our ancestors and siblings, all encapsulated in the Ninth of Av, has purpose and meaning. That purpose and meaning is a privilege not to be missed, and this is the real Jewish interpretation of suffering.

The parable is told of a young lamb, wandering with his mother and the rest of the flock through pastures. A shepherd and his sheepdog lead, providing peace and security.

The flock enters a forest, and the little lamb is separated from his mother and the others. He looks up, realizing he is lost and alone. Dark clouds gather and powerful thunderstorm kicks up, adding to his fear. Night falls, and animals of prey begin to prowl. Our little lamb listens to the howling wolves and snarling mountain lions and is paralyzed with terror.

Suddenly, in the darkness, he feels a blow. A familiar one that he has felt before! It is the staff of the shepherd, driving him back home! The sheepdog is barking at his feet as well. Can you relate to the warm flooding feeling of relief that fills the lamb at these sharp sensations?

This is the meaning of the wonderous words of the Psalm 23, recited at most military funerals, “Even as I walk in the valley of the shadow of death… your rod and your staff console me.”

This is Jewish suffering. It is what keeps us together, keeps us true, and keeps us whole. If we could reach those ideals without it, the little lamb would never get lost. But our history is long and treacherous. What will ensure our survival? What will keep us dedicated to our national goals of spirituality, spreading blessings, and perfecting the universe for the benefit of all mankind? It is the sharp, directive rap visited upon us, orchestrated from above, through the blow of our enemies.

Israelis often say that the best way to destroy their country would be to leave it alone. They are only half-joking. We have endured for thousands of years not despite oppression but because of it. Like a grape, when we are squeezed, we improve. We recommit to our ideals.

Jews do not romanticize suffering. We mourn it. Every individual loss is indescribably tragic. We honor it appropriately and move on. But we know that as a people, the standard to which we are held keeps us sharp. Perhaps, if our enemies would cease and desist, they would indeed succeed in getting us to destroy ourselves.

But they never will, and neither will we.

Volume 77. Number 2. 2023

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Why Mahloket Matters

By Miranda Bass, Post 1

One of the aspects of my time in the Army that I value most was my exposure to different types of people. Even though my hometown of New York is one of the most diverse cities in the world, the Army enabled me to forge deep, meaningful relationships and lifelong friendships with people I otherwise had little in common with and would never have met. Many veterans reflect on this feeling of brother and sisterhood as a unique aspect of their time in the service, and I feel lucky to have had this opportunity from the age of 17.

It was not until I left the Army years later that I realized how unusual this experience was of living, training, and becoming friends with people so different from me. In civilian life, most of us are naturally surrounded by people we choose based on shared values or common interests, and this is a good thing. It allows us to foster community and feel grounded and safe. But in recent years, the pandemic and political climate have created a vicious cycle of polarization and isolation, keeping us away not only from our chosen communities, but creating even more distance from those with whom we disagree or don’t have much in common.

Recently, I was privileged to be a Mahloket Matters Fellow at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies based in Jerusalem. Mahloket is a Hebrew word meaning disagreement, specifically, disagreement that is generative and deepens our understanding of ourselves and others, as opposed to disagreement that is reductive, destructive, and isolating. The program used sources from the Tanakh up through the present day to illustrate how our Jewish tradition values Mahloket, how we can foster it in our lives, and the potential it has to help heal some of our culture’s deep wounds.

The Mahloket Matters curriculum is incredibly rich, too much so to do it justice in a brief article, but perhaps the most powerful idea I learned from Mahloket Matters is the 49-49 conversation. In Jewish texts, the number 50 often represents an idea of wholeness and completion, that everything is encompassed and contained. The Talmud teaches us in a story that even our great sages, the early rabbis, could only achieve 49 in their learning and knowledge. It is impossible for a human being to know and contain all the wisdom and perspectives on a given matter, and so we need to live and disagree with a profound humility. This humility does not mean that we cannot advocate for and defend our beliefs. On the contrary, the premise of a 49-49 conversation is that we are already doing just that! What it means is that we need a level of openness in the conversation to truly hear and understand not just the differing opinions or beliefs someone else holds, but why they feel that way, the context in which they came to hold their beliefs, and our common humanity. The goal is not to win an argument, but to deepen our understanding of others and ourselves.

A 49-49 conversation is also predicated on mutual respect and safety in order to be vulnerable enough to share our beliefs and receive others that may be directly opposed. If all parties can muster that basic respect and feel safe enough, Mahloket has the potential to transcend disagreement and turn into real learning and even healing.

Nowhere have I seen Mahloket in action in my life more than in the Army. Units, barracks living, duty assignments, training, deployments, and more, all put us on intimate terms with every other type of American out there. For much of my career, I spent every waking moment around people with whom I strongly differed and disagreed. This resulted in funny, frustrating, and even painful misunderstandings and disagreements, but through them I learned that relationships can survive and become stronger through disagreement, and that there can actually be fun, joy, and incredible learning in seeing Mahloket through, and becoming true friends with someone with whom you disagree. Military life has much to teach us about the value and practice of Mahloket and how we can not just coexist, but live well with people with whom we disagree.

Volume 77. Number 2. 2023

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Honoring a Forgotten Veteran

By PNC Carl Singer

Like many other JWV posts, Essex-Preiskel-Miller-Glassberg Post 47 in Northern New Jersey helps maintain veterans’ graves at several cemeteries. Each year, with the help of volunteers from nearby synagogues, we refresh weather beaten flags and JWV markers prior to Memorial Day and Veterans Day.

The largest cemetery in our area is King Solomon Cemetery with over 55,000 graves. We replace as many as 500 flags there each year. Additionally, throughout the year when a family contacts the cemetery to request a new or replacement flag we do so.

On Friday, August 20, I drove out to King Solomon Cemetery to place a single flag after receiving a family’s request. While walking back to my car I noticed a headstone with neither a flag nor marker.
Private Ralph Silverstein, barely 20 years old, was killed in action on September 22, 1944. I cleaned up the headstone and placed a JWV marker and flag there.

I then noticed that his yahrzeit date was on the 5th of Tishrei – less than two weeks away. I contacted my friend and fellow Post 47 member Chaplain Ira Kronenberg to ensure Private Silverstein’s yahrzeit would be properly observed with kaddish.

Volume 77. Number 2. 2023

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JWV Denounces Antisemitic Remarks by Representative Jayapal

The Jewish War Veterans of the USA (JWV) expressed outrage at the remarks of U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA) given on Saturday in Chicago stating that Israel is a “racist state.”

JWV National Commander Colonel Nelson L. Mellitz, USAF (Retired) denounced the comments of Congresswoman Jayapal (WA) as “insensitive, hurtful, and just wrong.” As antisemitism is on the rise, remarks like hers only fuel the fires of hate and bigotry. “JWV continues to stand in support of Israel as we have since its rebirth as well as vehemently oppose antisemitism, wherever and whenever it occurs, as we have since our founding in 1896,” said Mellitz.

About Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America
Founded in 1896, the Jewish War Veterans (JWV) is the premier voice for Jewish uniformed service members and veterans in the United States. The JWV affirms that Jewish men and women serve honorably and heroically in the military forces of the United States of America during peacetime and war. The JWV defends the rights and benefits of all service members and veterans, fights antisemitism, and supports the State of Israel.

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