Three Generations of Folands cleaning Jewish Veteran graves during Memorial Day.
By Mark Weiss, Post 474
DETROIT – JWV Michigan is proud to say that we have a great Honor Guard. Our members are out in our community serving those that gave so much to us when called upon. We have a great relationship with our local military cemetery, Great Lakes National Cemetery, and our Commander, Art Fishman, is always willing to give them a call when needed.
When JWV Michigan’s Honor Guard was asked to accompany an American hero and our friend to his final resting place after Memorial Day, we automatically agreed without a second thought. Our members have sacrificed a lot, and somebody has to show up to do something like this for them. It is one of the greatest mitzvahs you can do in the Torah.
JWV Michigan Color Guard.
However, he did not make it easy on us or his family to honor him. The family could not find his DD-214, and eventhough the family insisted that he was a veteran, the Great Lakes National Cemetery insisted on having the DD-214 before going ahead with the burial. In addition, the Post Office would not issue his flag without the DD-214 as well. His family scrambled to find his paperwork, but could not find it within the 2 days of his passing.
JWV MI’s Honor Guard had to improvise, and with a little help of the funeral director at Great Lakes, we were able to hold a Memorial Service for him, and when the family found the paperwork (which they eventually did), he would be buried with full military honors. At the Memorial Service, we said a prayer, had the presentation of the colors, a three-volley gun salute and the playing of TAPS. The funeral director even gave the family one of his flags.
I highly recommend that you save your family and friends this heartache by being prepared for your funeral. Make sure that you give a copy of your DD-214 to your family, your lawyer and your funeral director. If you are the child of a veteran, make sure you get a copy of your parent’s DD-214 and file it away. Do not put your family in this position! It is heartbreaking. Funeral directors and Honor Guards can only do so much. Please, be prepared.
By Richard Castelveter, U.S. Army Reserve Ambassador Coordinator
BURLINGTON COUNTY, Nj. – U.S. Army Reserve Ambassador Myron J. Berman, Post 706, received the Public Service Commendation Medal from Maj. Gen. Troy D. Kok, commanding general of the U.S. Army Reserve’s 99th Readiness Division, during a ceremony Aug. 3 on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey.
The Public Service Commendation Medal is the fourth highest public service decoration the United States Department of the Army can bestow upon a civilian, ranking directly below the Meritorious Public Service Medal.
The Army Reserve Ambassador Program was established in 1998 to promote awareness of the Army Reserve, its goals and objectives, and to serve as a vital bridge in our states/communities to further educate and garner support for the Army Reserve. Ambassadors are a powerful means of message delivery to the American people.
The function of the ambassador is similar to that of civilian aides to the Secretary of the Army, and carries a protocol status equivalent of a major general that is a key means by which ambassadors are able to effectively execute their responsibilities. Ambassadors are Special Government Employees who represent the Chief of the Army Reserve without salary, wages or related benefits.
General Kok and Myron Berman
Ambassadors provide community outreach assistance to Army Reserve members/families, other military personnel/families as needed, and provide feedback on plans, programs and needs to the commander of the Army Reserve, the Readiness Division commander and to local Army Reserve commanders.
Additionally, ambassadors build relationships and strive to improve the understanding and knowledge of the Army Reserve within the business and social sectors of communities across America. They help to educate the public, community leaders, and congressional staff offices about the capabilities and values of the Army Reserve and the Soldiers who live and work in their communities. They establish open lines of communication with the local communities; and they work to support recruiting efforts by assisting community and business leaders in recognizing that the Army Reserve strengthens the Soldiers, the community, and the nation.
While not all ambassadors have military experience, many are retired officers or senior non-commissioned officers who wish to remain engaged in military affairs. Each state and territory has at least one Army Reserve ambassador.
https://www.jwv.org/wp-content/uploads/Myron-Berman-Receiving-the-Medal-from-General-Kok.jpg12882048Iryna Applehttps://www.jwv.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/jwv-logo-v4.svgIryna Apple2018-09-14 15:10:022018-09-14 15:36:06Army Reserve Ambassador Receives Public Service Award
Rabbi Aaron A. Rozovsky, Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life
JACKSON, Mo. – When we serve as Soldiers, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, Airmen, and Sailors, we sacrifice a great deal. We are away from our homes, communities, friends, and loved ones for extended periods of time. We are in a calling that inherently places our lives on the line which is why some of us have to go to places like Arlington National Cemetery to visit our friends, and some of the things that we experience stay with us long after we take off our uniforms. No one can blame a veteran for wanting to be left alone after having given so much.
Toward the end of the book of Deuteronomy, in parashah Ha-azinu (“Listen”), Moses delivers a lengthy sermon, often called “The Song of Moses.” He details what will happen to the Israelites if and when they sin, and how they will be redeemed. After this powerful declaration, he tells the people, “Take to heart all the words with that I have warned you this day. Enjoin them upon your children, that they may observe faithfully all the terms of this Teaching” (Deuteronomy 32:46). The 16th-century Italian Rabbi Obadiah ben Jacob Sforno elaborates on this verse, writing, “At the end of your lives, when you pass on an ethical will, enjoin these words upon them”.[i]
Rabbi Aaron Rozovsky
In his famous pamphlet series, The American Crisis (written in support of the patriot cause during the American Revolution), the English philosopher Thomas Paine declares, “These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot, will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.”[ii] Almost two centuries later, President John F. Kennedy proclaimed, “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country”.[iii]
If Moses, Sforno, Paine, and Kennedy were separated by so much time, distance, and circumstance, what could these men and their words possibly have in common? Perhaps it is this: our service can never end, because the eyes of our descendants are upon us. As Jews and as American fighting men and women, we are forever obligated to serve. That is simply who we are at our core. But we can’t be soldiers all our days, nor were we meant to be. Taking off our uniforms does not mark the end of our service, nor is it the closing of a book; rather, it is the ending of one chapter in a lifetime of selflessly giving back to our communities and our nation. As members of the armed forces, we demonstrate to future generations why serving in uniform is so vital to embracing and upholding our national character. Now as veterans, no longer in our dress uniforms or battle fatigues, but sporting our civilian attire, we must find new ways to serve. We must continue to be role models for the impressionable young people in our communities, in whose hands the fate of our nation rests.
About the Author: Rabbi Aaron A. Rozovsky is a 2018 ordainee of the Cincinnati campus of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. He is the Director of Rabbinical Services at the Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life in Jackson, Mississippi. Rabbi Rozovsky is also a Chaplain with the rank of Captain in the Rhode Island Army National Guard. He has been in the military for over 12 years and has deployed to both Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
[i] Sforno’s commentary on Deuteronomy 32:46 (courtesy Carasik, Michael. The Commentator’s Bible-The Rubin JPS Miqra’ot Gedolot: Deuteronomy. Philadelphia: The Jewish Publication Society. 2015. p.236)
[ii] Paine, Thomas. “The American Crisis” (Vol 1). Pennsylvania Journal. December 23, 1776. (courtesy ushistory.org)
[iii] Kennedy, John F. Inaugural Address. January 20, 1961. (courtesy ushistory.org)
https://www.jwv.org/wp-content/uploads/Aaron-Rozovsky.jpg20481692Iryna Applehttps://www.jwv.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/jwv-logo-v4.svgIryna Apple2018-09-14 15:03:052018-09-14 15:03:47Our Service Never Ends
Barry accepting his nomination for National Commander at Convention.
Dear Friends,
First let me say how honored and humble I am to serve as this year’s National Commander. I will do my best to live up to your expectations. Please feel free to contact me with any suggestions and/or questions at nationalcmdr@jwv.org.
The High Holy Days are a time for reflection and new beginnings. As we usher in 5779, I challenge you to reflect on the many good things we at JWV do for our veterans and service members. This time of year we ask G—d for strength to make ourselves better than we were last year and remove the burden of regret from last year. My personal wish is for each of you and your families to have a sweet, healthy and successful new year.
The year started off with a bang! The Tampa convention was one of the best in memory. The revised format has put new emphasis on workshops which will help us improve efficiency in delivering our various programs. Should you have suggestions for workshops, best practices sessions or speakers, please contact Anna Selman at National Headquarters or email me at the above address. Congratulations to our National staff and Convention Committee for all their hard work.
Barry serving the homeless at Post 256’s Annual BBQ for the homeless.
August saw me in New Orleans and Shreveport to say hello and offer assistance to the Posts in both cities. In early September, I joined Post 256 in Dallas for their annual BBQ luncheon for homeless Veterans. Over 120 veterans were served a delicious lunch. Later in September, I had the opportunity to visit the Capt. David Greene Post 344 in Denver. In Boulder, Colorado, I had the opportunity and to meet with the University of Colorado ROTC Cadet Corps and the University Veteran Assistance Officer. This fall will be equally busy with Veteran’s Day activities in Washington DC as well as Brussels Belgium, SHAPE and NATO Headquarters. As we remember the end of WWI, let us not forget the heroes of that war. I encourage each echelon to develop a remembrance in your own community. We will make a stop in London to visit with the members of the Association of Jewish Ex-Service Men and Women (AJEX).
This year’s Allied Mission trip to Israel has been totally revamped! Please review the itinerary located elsewhere in the paper. With the help of David Dinour and Aviatours Tours, a very special trip has been planned. We believe it will appeal to Military and civilians alike, as well as those Allied Veterans our various Departments will be sending on this exciting trip. As an added bonus, an extension tour to Egypt has been scheduled. The itinerary is certain to excite the senses and enlighten the mind. Please register now!
I am pleased to announce the renavigations of the Iraq/Afghanistan committee under the able leadership of Rochel Hyman from Arizona. She is very attuned to the needs of our younger active duty personnel and veterans. I know she will do much to bring them into the fold.
To the ladies of JWVA, congratulations to President Singer. I look forward to working together for the mutual benefit of both organizations. Together, united, we stand stronger and more efficient in carrying out our common mission.
Membership continues to be is a major goal. We need more, new and younger members. They are out there. Your job is to find them and let them know, regardless of age, that JWV has meaning and value to them and their families. At last count there are over 50,000 Jewish veterans waiting to be asked to join JWV. All they need is to be asked. Please ASK THEM! Let us not forget about our museum. The museum is our face in DC. It tells what we have done and what we do. Every member of JWV should be a member of the museum. Post Commanders take hold of the issue and insure new and renewing members are encouraged to join. Talk to your synagogues, JCC’s Federations and insure they make the museum a priority stop when they take students to Washington.
As a final comment, remember it is now time to renew for 2019. Review your membership roster. Call, email or write those members in arrears. Your voting strength and NEC delegation is based on paid membership.
As we march into the future, please know that I appreciate the efforts put forward by each of you.
https://www.jwv.org/wp-content/uploads/Barry-Schneider-for-magazine.jpg20481639Iryna Applehttps://www.jwv.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/jwv-logo-v4.svgIryna Apple2018-09-14 14:53:052018-09-14 14:55:22National Commander Barry Schneider’s Fall Update
President Donald Trump on Call, Photo Credit: The Times of Israel
By Sabrina Fine, Communications Intern
Ahead of the Jewish New Year 5779 (2018), Jewish War Veterans of the U.S.A. participated in a phone call with President Donald Trump. The President was introduced by his son-in-law and senior advisor Jared Kushner.
“It’s my honor to introduce in a few minutes the President. As we enter the final days of the month of Elul on the Jewish calendar the Jewish tradition calls for the month leading into Rosh Hashanah to be one of introspection and reflection,” said Kushner.
Kushner also spoke about Trump’s contributions to all American people. After the brief introduction the 45th President joined the call.
“To many Rabbis, Jewish leaders and friends who are on the line I am delighted to wish you L’Shana Tova, a sweet new year and you will have many others,” said Trump.
Trump expressed his deep gratitude to the Jewish people. Despite the Jewish people’s history of suffering and persecution, they have continued to thrive and contribute to the world.
Trump also stated his close personal connection to the Jewish people. His daughter Ivanka and her husband Jared are Jewish and the President is proud and loves his Jewish grandchildren.
During the High Holidays, reflection, atonement and remembrance are important, and the President reflected on some of his achievements for the Jewish people.
White House Symbol, Photo Credit: White House
“As we hear the sound of shofars called this year we have much to celebrate as a nation,” said Trump. “Opportunities for all Americans are soaring, record numbers of Americans are working.”
Another of Trump’s administration’s accomplishments was moving the US embassy to Jerusalem on May 14, 2018 at 4p.m. The date and time is noteworthy because David Ben-Gurion declared Israel’s independence the same date and time 70 years ago.
David Friedman, the United States Ambassador to Israel, also participated in the call and praised the opening of the Embassy as a significant and joyous moment.
“The embassy in Jerusalem has become a major tourist site in Israel,” said Friedman. “People just pull-up their cars, they get out, they take pictures. I have seen some people praying there. I have actually seen many people crying there.”
Another credit given to the Trump administration was the withdrawal from the United Nations Human Rights Council. In June, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley announced the decision. One of the reasons was stated by Haley to be the council having a “chronic bias against Israel”.
During the call, Trump also mentioned a long-overdue success with the deportation of the last known Nazi war criminal from the United States in August. Ninety-five year old Jakiw Palij was a guard and associated with terrible atrocities during the Holocaust. Palij’s deportation was ordered in 2004, however for 14 years American officials could not find an accepting country for Palij.
“We renew our pledge to confront anti-Semitism and hatred in all of its forms,” said Trump.
Alan Dershowitz, a participant in the call, thanked the President for doing what others have not been able to do.
Dershowitz asked, “Mr. President, should the Jewish community be optimistic that you can help bring about a peaceful resolution of the conflict that we all pray for all the time?”
Referring to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict the President responded with a strong yes. Trump stated that while it is a challenge, his administration is working diligently on getting a deal.
Norman Colman, chairman of the Republican Jewish coalition, also participated in the call.
“In the spirit of introspection and reflection that we as Jews are called upon to do this time of year, please allow me to thank you for the courage and wisdom you’ve demonstrated in the promises made and promises kept this year that have really strengthened the U.S. Israel relation,” said Coleman. Coleman then questioned the President.
“Where do we go from here with Iran? What more can we do to neutralize Iran’s ongoing effort to destabilize the gulf region and continually threaten Israel’s existence?”
Trump said we will see what happens down the road and Iran is different now than before he became President. Trump stated that pulling out of the Iran deal was good for Israel and world peace and has demonstrated he has Israel and the Jewish people’s safety and security in mind.
“May you be inscribed in the book of life,” said Trump. “I send my warmest wishes to the Jewish people in the United States and around the world as we approach the high holidays.”
https://www.jwv.org/wp-content/uploads/President-Trump-on-the-Call-Photo-Credit-The-Times-of-Israel.jpg580880Iryna Applehttps://www.jwv.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/jwv-logo-v4.svgIryna Apple2018-09-06 16:07:032018-09-07 10:59:23L’Shana Tova from President Donald Trump
The Great War was a war that was supposed to be the end of all wars. In the minds of people around the world, the deaths of so many soldiers and civilians had guaranteed that no one would ever wage war again. To this effect, after November 11, 1918 or Armistice Day, many memorials to the fallen and monuments to the survivors were erected across the nation and the world. Today, a century and countless wars later, too many of these monuments and memorials have been neglected, destroyed, removed or abandoned.
In 2013, an Act of Congress created the World War 1 Centennial Commission (hereafter referred to as the Commission). The Commission’s mission is to commemorate the centennial of the occurrence of WWI, to include but not limited to preserving WWI monuments and memorials, and educate others on WWI. This mission is not unique to the Commission, but is it’s main focus.
In order to involve the nation in preserving, refurbishing, and even rebuilding monuments and memorials dedicated to those that fought in WWI, the Commission created the “100 memorials, 100 cities” program and the Volunteer Monument Hunter program. With the creation and continued activity of these programs, many monuments and memorials that would otherwise be obscured to history forever are uncovered, documented, and registered for all to enjoy. Some are found simply hiding in plain sight, like six small brass plates at the base of the trees at the entrance of courthouse in Orofino, ID commemorating six men who had died in WWI from the area[1] (shown bottom left) or an unfinished memorial in the Old Agudas Achim cemetery in Columbus Ohio that has not been used since 19521 (shown bottom right). Others are more noticeable, like the large plaque in The First Presbyterian Church in Seattle Washington.
The Volunteer Monument/Memorial Hunter program, as described above, is one of the latest and largest program created by the Commission to encourage and spread the interest in finding and documenting WWI memorials and monuments. These entries are uploaded to a national database with the specific location, names of those honored, pictures of the memorial, and the names of those that rediscovered the memorial. So far, hundreds of monuments have been documented with this initiative. The memorials have been found across the country, in abandoned cemeteries, active cemeteries, courtyards and memorial walls in churches, synagogues, colleges, universities and other religious and educational institutions as well as parks and county court house lawns. Featured at the bottom left is one such a memorial found slowly sinking in a park and restored by Robert Shay1. The people who look for these monuments are as varied as the memorials they are trying to preserve. What they all have in common is the drive to preserve, protect, and in a sense, defend those who did the same for us a hundred years ago. All the volunteers had to do was spend a few hours walking around town looking for these historical markers.
The other principal program supported by the Commission is the “100 memorials, 100 cities” program. As mentioned previously, almost every city and town has a memorial to those that made the ultimate sacrifice during WWI. Because of this, the Commission is awarding up to $2,000 to 100 municipal governments, individuals, or organizations who are refurbishing their WWI monuments. So far 50 cities have applied for and won a grant, and the second batch of 50 will be announced from the second round of applications. The money is provided by many generous sponsors.
Now that you are aware of our hunt for WWI memorials, I issue a challenge. Find all WWI memorials within your cities, big and small. All represent one or more lives that have been lost to keep us free. While this may seem difficult, it is the least we can do as a nation to honor those that fought and especially those that gave the last full measure of devotion on this, the centenary of their sacrifice.
For help and questions with the Volunteer Monument Hunter program, the “100 memorials, 100 cities” program or the Commission in general, please refer to the Commission’s website
I recently retired from the Navy after 33 years of service in peace, crisis and combat, serving afloat and ashore around the world. Before sharing my reflections as a Jewish Naval Officer at Tampa’s Temple Schaarai Zedek last month it was important to set the context by informing others of the proud history of Jews who honorably served in uniform and were decorated for valor from our colonial era through conflicts of today. Of particular note were several four-stars, including an Air Force Chief of Staff, a Chief of Naval Operations and the Father of the Nuclear Navy. As a Board Member at the U.S. Naval Academy’s Jewish Chapel, I also placed special attention on its namesake, Commodore Uriah Levy, our nation’s first Jewish Flag Officer.
Commodore’s Levy most famous citation is, “I am an American, a Sailor, a Jew.” I read of his exploits as a teenager growing up in New York and I drew inspiration from his example that someone could be all three. So why do Jews join the military in the first place? There’s a myriad of answers for the approximate 1% of the military that is Jewish, but I joined because I felt I had ‘skin in the game.’ As Jews we expect our nation to contribute generously to those less fortunate. However, when it’s time for our own family to contribute to national security and go into harm’s way, my observations growing up in the Bronx and a middle class suburb of Long Island was that many Jewish families discouraged military participation. In my mind this created a perception to some that Jewish citizens were not the generous givers to society upon which we rightfully pride ourselves. My sensitivity to this played a large part in my decision to join the Navy in 1979, frankly, against some of my family’s wishes. But when it comes to the defense of America and of American-ensured freedom around the world, I believe we Jews, especially descendants like me of East European immigrants who found shelter in this land and had family murdered in the Holocaust, that we owe this country something.
My Jewish education came in handy as an officer. I often reflected upon Maimonedes’ eight degrees of tzedakah or charity and equated them to good officership. We most often read of Maimonides at Passover, but the lesson is eternal. The levels of charity from lowest to highest are 8) giving unwillingly, to 1) giving something that strengthens someone’s hand so they don’t have to receive again. I thought about that in everyday situations from helping a subordinate unwillingly and #1, helping them gladly so that they may help themselves in the long run. The best officers and leaders I served with applied Maimonedes’ first degree of charity, and I strove to do so as well. Also prominent in my officership’s outlook was the guidance of Hillel: “What is hateful to yourself, do not do unto your neighbor … That is the whole of the Torah, the rest is commentary.” I thought about that every day: treating shipmates as you would want yourself treated. Often serving as Jewish Lay Leader, I frequently used a Talmud citation as a star to steer by, “A Jew, no matter how far he strays from the path, is still a Jew.” It was never for me to tell more junior Jewish personnel what should be their Jewish path or how far they should stray … their Jewish path was their choice. But I made it a point to never stray during the big holidays when junior Jewish personnel turn to a senior Jewish officer for ritual leadership. It was in this way that I sought to educate the next generation of American military personnel who are Jewish to remember where the path is if they need it
Finally, in matters more practical I found in the military it’s important to get along, to be one of the guys. Many of the guys I met in the Navy had never met a Jew. Some weren’t inclined to like me. On those occasions I tried twice as hard to be a regular guy in an attempt to disavow any erroneous stereotypes others had about Jews … joining sports teams, taking on collateral duties, missing a little sleep if it means some extra social events. As a lone Jew in some commands I chose to play a broader role than I might have chosen otherwise, becoming a representative of a religion to which I’m a part, representing Jews even when I thought I wasn’t worthy of representing an entire people. But thanks to lessons learned from Rabbi Chaplains along the way it dawned on me I was worthy, and that realization, allowed me to be better as an American, a Sailor, a Jew.
https://www.jwv.org/wp-content/uploads/Paul-Becker.jpg858809Iryna Applehttps://www.jwv.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/jwv-logo-v4.svgIryna Apple2018-03-20 10:12:122018-03-20 10:20:41Reflections of a Jewish Naval Officer
Jewish Warrior Weekend was hosted this semester by Texas A&M University in College Station. This semester, 53 cadets and midshipmen were able to participate in this wonderful event. Events that they were able to participate in include: learning the basics of how to be a lay leader, listen to speeches by high ranking officers on being Jewish in the Armed Forces in this day and age, meet other future officers in the military, and speaking to Chaplains on tips and tricks of being Jewish in the Armed Forces.
The Jewish Warrior Weekend Program is weekend retreat once every college semester for cadets and midshipmen from across the country and colleges to meet other Jewish future service members and learn about various things specific to being Jewish leaders in the United States Armed Forces. It was first formed as a way for Jewish cadets and midshipmen from the military academies to meet each other. The program later grew to include Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets, culminating this year to include most of the Service Academies, many of the Senior Military Colleges, and some ROTC programs.
This event allows Jewish future service members to meet each other and develop a network, as well as learn from those already in the service tips and tricks to being Jewish and being a Jewish leader in the military. Many have already graduated from this program, and are providing more information for future participants. The community grown and developed at Jewish Warrior Weekend has lasted for many years, and will continue to do so in the future. Some prominent guest speakers that the cadets were able to learn from include RDML Harold Robinson, CAPT Dan Goldenberg, and Past TALO Commander Dr. Barry Schneider.
JWW Spring 2018 was generously sponsored by the Jewish War Veterans, the Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets, Texas A&M University Hillel, Texas A&M Chabad, Jewish Welfare Board, United States Military Academy Jewish Chapel, United States Naval Academy Jewish Chapel and the United States Air Force Academy Jewish Chapel.
Next semester, Jewish Warrior Weekend will be hosted at the United States Naval Academy on Veterans Day Weekend.
Purim was celebrated at the Manhattan VA Medical Center [VAMC] on Purim morning, March 1, with the reading of the Purim Megillah, live Purim music by the MazelTones and hamentashen. The event was organized by VAMC Jewish Chaplain Rabbi Andrew Scheer and was sponsored by Jewish War Veterans [JWV] Manhattan-Cooper-Lieutenant Colonel Larry Epstein-Florence Greenwald Post 1, the oldest veterans echelon in the United States.
The Megillah reading has been an annual occurrence at the VAMC for many decades. JWV has been sponsoring the event for approximately the last 15 years by providing the Megillah books, the groggers and the hamentashen. Approximately 25 people attended the Megillah reading, which included Post 1 members and patrons as well as VAMC staff and patients. Among JWV members and patrons attending were National Executive Committee member Jerry Alperstein, Sara Alperstein, Seymour Beder, Jonah Berman, Michael Henken, Robert Iskowitz, Mitchell Mernick, Harold Schaeffer, Simon Spiegelman and JWV Department of New York Hospital Committee Chair Mort Weinstein. The Megillah reader was David Waxman, a member of our community.
Following the Megillah reading, five flavors of hamentashen [apricot, chocolate, mango, pomegranate and raspberry] were served while two members of the MazelTones of New York Band, including Jerry Alperstein on trumpet, performed Purim music. Among the VAMC staff attending from the Chaplaincy Department in addition to Rabbi Scheer were Chaplain Elizabeth Putnam and Chaplain Intern Harold Ng. After the hamentashen eating and Purim music were completed, a Post 1 meeting was held at the VA including the election and installation of officers for the 2018-2019 year.
The Dr. Harvey J. Bloom Post 256 Color Guard was invited to perform opening ceremonies at the Third Annual Dallas Kosher BBQ Championship on a sunny late October 29th morning in the parking lot of presenting sponsor Sunnyland Furniture in far North Dallas. The rapidly growing event merged the national cuisine of Texas with strict Jewish dietary laws under the watchful supervision of Dallas Kosher and the world-renowned Kansas City Barbecue Society. Teams from around Texas and beyond fired-up their grills in the pre-dawn hours to compete in the only KCBS-sanctioned Kosher cook-off in Texas. The event featured local celebrity judges, a live band, and numerous sponsors, Post 256 included, staffing booths at the family-friendly and free event. Tickets to sample delicious barbecue beef, turkey and sausage that were prepared with varying degrees of heat were available for purchase, with proceeds going to support several area charities. Judges announced the winners and awarded team plaques before the sun set on a perfect autumn afternoon.
The Post 256 Color Guard, under the direction of Color Sergeant David Foland, consisted of Allan Cantor (National Officer-of-the Day and past Post Commander), Steve Solka (Jr. Vice Commander), Art Kaplan (Dept. of TALO Commander), Bob Epstein, and Harry Kabler. Their Trooping of the Colors, both American and Israeli flags, marked the event’s official opening to the public as the crowd came to attention to recite the Pledge of Allegiance and sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “Hatikvah.”
We staffed an information table near the bandstand and were able to recruit a new member, U.S. Navy veteran David Meier, to JWV and our Post. The event was a great opportunity to showcase JWV to our community, and we are excited to include David in our ranks. We will definitely be back next year for some of that delicious Texas barbeque.
