Post 580 Continuing a New Orleans Memorial Day Tradition

By Judge Sol Gothard

The Jewish community of New Orleans has a special Memorial Day Tradition.  Every year, the Ben Katz Post 580 and Congregation Beth Israel come together to remember our departed veterans in a uniquely Jewish way.  An indispensable tenet of the Jewish faith is remembering and honoring our deceased loved ones by saying the Kaddish prayers for them every year on the anniversary of their death as well as three times during the year – Passover, Sukkot and Shavout.

This year, 580’s Memorial Day Remembrance was spread out over the three day weekend.  After usual Friday services, the congregants each lit memorial candles for their deceased veterans as Major Carl Berman USAR called out their names.  Judge Gothard, commander of Post 580, lit candles for his three brothers that served in World War II – Abe, Jack and Gerald.  Abe was a combat engineer, and he was part of the D-Day assault on Omaha Beach.  He fought throughout the war until he was seriously wounded at the Battle of the Bulge, and he was awarded the Purple Heart for his service during the battle.

On Shabbat morning, a special memorial service was held, and you could see members of JWV dressed in uniform and wearing their JWV caps.  MAJ Berman gave the sermon – “the fundamental question for this speech is ‘How does one who was raised in a Black Baptist family and went to a Jesuit Catholic college, end up marrying into an Orthodox Jewish family and want to become a Jew?”  She spoke about her love of the Jewish faith and her experiences in Afghanistan in 2008.  “Even though I had not been to the mikvah yet, I have always adhered to the Jewish faith to the point where my dog tags say ‘Jewish’.”  She was advised by one of her senior officers to bury her dog tags if something bad happened.  “I decided that my dogs would not be buried in the desert; they will hang around my neck,” said Berman.

On Memorial Day, members of JWV and the clergy staff of the synagogue held a graveside memorial service.  The Rabbis recited our ancient memorial prays on behalf of those veterans who served and of those who gave their lives fighting.  Gothard spoke at the ceremony, stating that Jewish veterans of any branch of the military are eligible for membership at the New Orleans Post.  He was very proud that Post 580 is one of the most diverse chapters in America.  He stated that patrons from other faiths joined because of the humanitarian work that we do on behalf of veterans.  “Anyone can join as a Patron member; you do not have to be a veteran or Jewish,” said Gothard.  Post 580 is currently doing a membership drive for 2017 to 2018, where the post will provide the dues for new members and give them a free service cap.  For more information, please contact Judge Gothard at judgesol@cox.net.

Volume 71. Number 3. Fall 2017