We will not be intimidated
Transcription
We will not be intimidated
The Jewish Veteran November 2007 • Volume 60 • Number 5 We will not be intimidated Teleconference Schedule • 2007-2008 Your voice matters - your ideas and input are important! All individual JWV Post Members are an important part of the Jewish War Veterans. As a JWV member, you can attend a National Committee Meeting by dialing toll-free into any Teleconference listed below: PLEASE JOIN WITH US! To participate in the Teleconference call: Dial 1-866-266-3378 and then enter the JWV Code Number 202 265 6280# (Enter the full number, including the # sign) Teleconference Schedule • All calls start at 8:00PM EDT or EST 2007 November 13 Tues. United Nations What’s it all about? November 28 Wed. Homeland Security December 5 Wed. Leadership at all levels Meeting your Past National Commanders December 18 Tues. Veterans’ Legislation What’s pending? January 15 Tues. Israel and the Allied Mission to Israel - Your opportunity to be part of it. January 31 Thurs. Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) February 14 Thurs. Finance Board The Mission February 27 Wed. Before NEC/Capitol Hill Day What to do and expect? March 18 Tues. National Museum of American Jewish Military History April 10 Thurs. Leadership at all Levels Make sure your elected Officials know of your concerns April 23 Wed. Information Technology May 14 Wed. Membership June 3 Tues. Public Relations Getting the JWV word out June 19 Thurs. Leadership at all levels The Post Commander July 15 Tues. United Nations What’s it all about. August 14 Thurs. At the Convention Information Technology Committee Meeting 2008 Viet Nam Veterans Committee August 15 Fri. At the Convention GWOT/Homeland Security August 28 Thurs. Housing and Homeless September 10 Wed. The Jewish Veteran What about it? September 23 Tues. Action Working together to fight anti-Semitism and protect the Veteran October 2 Thurs. Hospitals and VAVS October 23 Thurs. Women in the Military November 18 Tues. GWOT/Homeland Security December 4 Thurs. Leadership at all levels Meeting your Past National Commanders December 17 Wed. Veterans’ Legislation What’s pending? The Jewish Veteran The Official Publication of the Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America Contents Features 8 Host a Legislative Breakfast 9 Let us not commit the Sin of Silence 14 Departments Host a Legislative Breakfast Page 8 Across the Generations Page 14 Organized 1896 Official Publication of the Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America Lawrence Schulman National Commander PNC Paul Bernstein National Editor Herb Rosenbleeth National Executive Director Cheryl Waldman Managing Editor Christy Turner Graphics / Production Editor Robert M. Zweiman, PNC Editorial Fellow The Jewish Veteran is a member of The American Jewish Press Association. www.jwv.org Across the Generations of Jewish Military Service 4 Commander’s Corner 5 News from Capitol Hill 6 Letters to the Editor 7 Editor’s Corner 12 Commentary 18 JWV in Action 22 Press Releases 24 New Members 25 People and Places 26 Museum News 31 Taps EDITORIAL OFFICES, 1811 R Street, NW., Washington, D.C. 20009, Telephone: (202) 265-6280 x504, Fax: (202) 234-5662, Home Page: http://www.jwv.org, e-mail: jwv@jwv. org. Advertising information and rates available from the Editorial Office. The opinions expressed in signed articles and letters in this magazine are not necessarily those of JWV. The Jewish Veteran is published 5 times a year: Winter (Jan-Feb), Spring (Mar.-Apr.-May), Summer (June-July-Aug), Post-Convention (Sept.-Oct.) and Autumn (Nov.-Dec.) by the Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America at 1811 R Street, NW, Washington, DC 20009. Periodical postage paid at Washington, DC, and at additional mailing offices. Subscription price in the United States is $5.00 per year, included in membership. Nonmember subscriptions: $7.50. Single copies: $2.50. Photos and articles submitted to the Jewish War Veterans of the USA shall be used at the discretion of the organization. JWV assumes no responsibility for products and services advertised in this publication. Postmaster: Send address changes or undelivered copies to The Jewish Veteran, 1811 R Street, NW., Washington, D.C. 20009. © 2006 by the Jewish War Veterans of the USA. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. ISSN 0047-2018 2008 Jewish War Veteran Publishing Schedule February, 2008 copy, photo and ad deadline-Jan. 8; in mail Feb. 12 April, 2008 copy, photo and ad deadline-March 14; in mail April 12 June, 2008 copy, photo and ad deadline-May 23; in mail June 23 Convention issue copy, photo and ad deadline-Sept. 1; in mail Sept. 26 November, 2008 copy, photo and ad deadline-Oct. 18; in mail Nov. 16 November 2007 Commander’s Corner A message from National Commander Lawrence Schulman Dear JWV Members and Friends, I am truly honored to have the opportunity to serve as your Commander for the upcoming year. I pledge to you to do my best to represent you, the Jewish War Veterans, and veterans throughout this country who stand for what we believe in…. Freedom throughout the world. The theme for my term as your Commander is “EVERY VETERAN COUNTS.” It is our duty; no, it is our obligation to defend those who helped defend our nation. I ask the following questions: “What have we accomplished over the past years to support all of our veterans, both men and women?” “What support has this nation given to our veterans, and what support is still needed?” These are the questions that need to be answered, and, with your help, it is my goal to answer these and other questions and to continue to seek the benefits and support that our veterans deserve. For many years, our returning Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Coast Guard personnel, and Airmen were looked upon as men and women to admire, look up to and to emulate. We were proud to serve and, if called upon now, I am certain that we would proudly serve our country again. We were proud to have served, and we are proud to continue to serve. We will always be there when our nation calls upon us to go whenever and wherever we are needed, to defend our freedom, as well as the freedom of others. Now that you have elected me as your National Commander, it is my honor, duty and obligation to serve you. I pledge to fight for the rights that you and other veterans deserve and for the right to receive benefits you need and you fought for. I pledge to do whatever is in my power to make the Jewish Veteran proud-a leading figure in the defense of veterans throughout the United States. I am truly looking forward to working for you and with you. Yours in friendship and service, Lawrence Schulman National Commander We, the men and women, the former Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Coast Guard personnel, and Airmen, must help secure the physical and mental help for those young men and women who are serving today and who are serving in harm’s way. We must insure that they receive the help that is needed to get them back on their feet and back into society to become productive husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, and workers so that this country can continue to grow productively. Our central goal as veterans, not only just Jewish veterans, but veterans of all races, nationalities and religions, must be to work together to secure the support needed to maintain the health and welfare of the American Veteran. National Commander Lawrence Schulman with Israel’s UN Council General Ambassador Asaf Shariv Yes, we are Jews, but we are Jewish Veterans. The Jewish Veteran www.nmajmh.org News From Capitol Hill By Col Herb Rosenbleeth U.S. Army(Ret) Nat’l Executive Director VA Secretary As we go to press, President Bush has announced his decision to nominate Lt Gen James B. Peake (Ret), M.D., to serve as the next Secretary of Veterans Affairs. General Peake is a 1966 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point. He served in Vietnam as an infantry platoon leader with the 101st Airborne Division, where he was awarded the Silver Star, a Bronze Star, and two Purple Hearts. After Vietnam, he graduated from Cornell University Medical College and eventually became board certified in general and thoracic surgery. In 2000, Dr. Peake was nominated to be the 40th Surgeon General of the Army and as Commander of the United States Medical Command. In 2004, he joined Project Hope, a nonprofit international health foundation with offices and programs in more than 30 different countries on five continents. Dr. Peake is now serving as the Chief Medical Director and Chief Operating Officer of QTC Management, Inc. In announcing this nomination, President Bush said, “He will be the first physician and the first general to serve as secretary.” General Peake can count on the full support of JWV! Legislative Items of Interest • H.R. 1585 would inaugurate a total force approach to the Montgomery GI bill, setting the stage for more effective support for armed forces recruitment and greater opportunity for returning veterans of the War on Terror, specifically including members of the Guard and Reserve. • S. 1593 would provide military members, veterans, and their families with several tax breaks that they most assuredly deserve in light of their contributions to their nation. • H.R. 3612 would prevent the nearly 10 percent cut in Medicare and TRICARE payments to doctors scheduled for January 2008 under current law and would even authorize a modest increase. JWV believes these increases are essential to prevent more doctors from refusing to see elderly and/or military patients. • H.R. 3026, the Military Spouses Memorial Act of 2007, would authorize a military spouse monument in Washington, DC. This would be a great tribute to all military spouses, from all generations. • H.R. 2682, the Military Spouses Employment Act of 2007, would amend the Internal Revenue Code to give employers tax credit for hiring military spouses. As military families are making extraordinary sacrifices, a bill to provide a strong incentive to hire qualified military spouses will help military families. www.jwv.org November 2007 Letters to the Editor Please Remember JWV Stamp Program—War Veterans Request Donations of Stamps Dear Editor: The Jewish War Veterans, established in 1896, send the stamps to veterans as a means of aiding the rehabilitation efforts for those who have served the United States. For many of us the words “Stamp Collecting” bring back memories of how we occupied part of our childhood, but for most of us, the demands of later years left little time for this hobby, and the albums are now forgotten. To a hospitalized veteran who spends much of the day in bed, stamp collecting has proven to be a delightful pastime which allows the patient to exercise his/her fine motor skills, eye muscles and imagination. Also many do make collages. The stamps should be torn or cut out with at least a ¼” border around them and should not be cut or damaged. Not considered appropriate for this program are Easter Seals, Christmas Seals, Boys Town stamps, or Postage-metered envelopes. Please contact National Headquarters for information on where to send the stamps. Do not send them directly to National Headquarters. Eugene Moore National Stamp Chairman Olympiad Award Thanks Dear National Commander: Thanks you very much for awarding me the XX Olympiad Memorial Award. I am truly honored to receive it. I just started my freshman year at the University of Albany and am playing Lacrosse. The generosity of your organization is also greatly appreciated. I will use the money to pay for my books this semester. Thank you again. Sincerely, Nicole Branchini Appreciation for GI Travel Kits [Editor’s Note: The following letter was received by SOS Program Chairman Bill Farber] Dear Mr. Farber, I want to thank you for your continued support of our Soldiers at Fort Dix. We assist Soldiers and their Families during times of mobilization and demobilization and are very fortunate to be able to see every Soldier when they arrive. Soldiers spend some time here at Fort Dix training before they mobilize and again when they return from Iraq and Afghanistan. We want you to know just how important the hygiene kits have been to our Soldiers. They are always happy to receive your kits and love the fact that the kits contain everything needed as well as the extras (playing cards), we can’t think of anything missing. We have not taken photos to date, but will plan to do so during the next mobilization because a picture is worth a thousand words! You would think it is their Birthday when we give them out one day prior to their leaving for war. At that point they are getting ready to board a plane and the kits are just what they need for travel overseas. The kits are also very popular with our wounded Soldiers that are here for medical care. Every mobilizing Soldier, wounded Soldier and all of those in need receive your kits. Thank you again for thinking of our Soldiers! BONNIE P. REED Mobilization & Deployment Readiness, Program Manager From the President of Virginia Tech Dear JWV: We sincerely thank you for the kind messages of care and concern you sent to us. These have lifted our spirits and greatly aided us in the dark days surrounding this tragic event. Your thoughtfulness reminds us as well of the beauty and goodness in the world and helps give us Continued on page 11 The Jewish Veteran www.nmajmh.org Editor’s Corner By PNC Paul Bernstein, National Editor I am asking JWV to be pro-active in the defense of this Country. We in the JWV must be as passionate about the Security of our homeland as we are about protecting the rights of all veterans. We are at war. In the Global War on Terrorism, as in any war, the first item is to secure and protect the HQ, and the HQ here is the United States of America. This country must be made safe from any sneak attack, which we now refer to as terrorism. Yes, we must honor our returning heroes, but they must expect to have a secure homeland to come back to--this must be our mission! Our National Organization must be as passionate about Homeland Security when ascending Capitol Hill on Action day as we are about veterans’ issues. The protection of this country affects not only veterans but the entire population at large—yes, it is a bigger issue. I know, as a veterans’ organization, we think about veterans’ issues first, but consider this--when we put on the uniform of this country we took an oath to protect, preserve and defend the Constitution and the United States, and that oath is still enforced as veterans. Homeland Security should be among the important issues presented by us at Action Day; anything less would be letting this country down. The Administration and Congress are dragging their collective feet in completing many of the items presented in the 9-11 report. We can not and should not sit by and allow a morass to set in. Partisan politics should not weaken this country and should not be a hindrance in doing the right thing. The JWV Homeland Security Committee has presented several issues which have neither been implemented nor seen the light of day out of Congressional committees. In this War on Terrorism, time is of the essence. Congress is yet to understand this simple rule. This is because many of them have never worn the uniform of this country and don’t understand that action must always be taken to the enemy before action is www.jwv.org taken on us. I can’t believe that Congress and the President have not acknowledged this fact. Here are some of the concerns we must present to our congressional leaders: U.S. Customs Service created the Container Security Initiative (CSI) in 2002. The primary purpose of CSI is to protect the global trading system and the trade lanes between CSI ports and the U.S. They are required to screen containers using Xrays, gamma ray machines and radiation detection devices. Here are some concerns: 1. There is less than 100% inspection of cargo entering U.S. Ports. It is because only 58 of a total of 161 members have signed on to this initiative. Uninspected cargo is coming into the ports. 2. There is no technology yet to provide tamper-evident seals, which means we don’t know if the containers were compromised in transit. 3. There are no port nuke detectors available to ensure adequate inspection. Preliminary tests done in 2005 on new nuke devices showed that the best system available is only 53% accurate. We must do better if we are to be protected from nukes coming into U.S. by water. 4. The Commissioner of CSI, Ralph Basham, says their goal at CSI is to process 85% of all containers headed for the U.S. through CSI ports by 2007. Is 85% enough? What about the 103 member nations not in the CSI fold? The Ports are a weak link in our security. Speaking of port security, the Administration was by July, 2007, to have had in place a tamperproof ID card for workers in U.S. Ports. As of that date, this did not happen. In addition, the Port Authority of NY and NJ tested a “black box” that attaches to the insides Continued on page 23 November 2007 Host a Legislative Breakfast to Get Your Department’s Message Across at the State and Local Level For over 25 years the Department of New Jersey has hosted an annual legislative breakfast as a means of communicating veterans’ related concerns to public officials throughout our state. This article highlights the why’s and how’s of this breakfast. It is a blend of what our team does here in New Jersey combined with suggestions for how you might get started within your department. working team is the foundation of any successful event. It is important to build your team and assure that there are apprentices for each role so experience is shared and passed along so someone is waiting in the wings should a team member move away or be unavailable to serve in future years. The specific duties assigned to various team members are discussed below. OVERVIEW THE DETAILS AGENDA OF CONCERNS – The heart of the legislative breakfast is our Agenda of Concerns – a detailed presentation of national and state legislative issues that we must communicate to our public officials. The agenda of concerns is in great part based on issues from the national JWV platform and is supplemented by state-specific issues. The Agenda of Concerns is the primary component of a professionally prepared booklet which is distributed at the breakfast. This Agenda of Concerns booklet is used throughout the year to communicate on our behalf. A copy of the Agenda of Concerns is available at the JWV New Jersey website: www.jwv-nj.org. There are six major components to the work that goes into making the breakfast a success: (1) the agenda of concerns, (2) selecting and managing honorees, (3) managing attendance, (4) logistics, (5) program and (6) publicity. This effort is managed to a strict checklist and planning meetings begin approximately six months prior to the event. Remember, we have the advantage of building on previous experience and reputation – you will be starting from square one and may need more time. PURPOSE – The legislative breakfast has several purposes: Again, our primary purpose is to introduce to our legislators our agenda of concerns. Additionally, we honor a legislator of the year, and we honor others who have helped the veterans’ community. Finally, the legislative breakfast is a great relationship builder – not only do we invite myriad public officials, but also veterans from most other veterans organizations honor us with their presence. The legislative breakfast is not meant to be a fund raiser and our pricing is held down to encourage attendance. TEAM – It has been my privilege to chair this breakfast for the past two years, but it’s not about me – it’s about my team, many of whom have served in key roles for over a decade. A hard The Jewish Veteran 1. AGENDA OF CONCERNS The agenda of concerns is revised each year but there is a strong carry forward component from the previous year – that is previous issues get updated, new issues are added and some issues are overcome by events. Currently a team of five senior members including past department commanders and ladies auxiliary presidents prepares the “words.” The “music” – the booklet itself with accompanying photographs, biographies of honorees, etc., is done as a separate activity. We are fortunate to have a JWV member who is an experienced magazine editor and we lean heavily on his expertise. You want to produce a high quality booklet with useful content so attendees take it home and use it rather than toss it away after the breakfast. www.nmajmh.org By COL Carl A. Singer, USA (ret) – SVC Department of New Jersey 2. SELECTING AND MANAGING HONOREES Our honorees are not strangers, but friends who have worked hard supporting the veteran. The choice of our “Legislator of the Year” is critical. Normally, we alternate years selecting either a state official (State Assemblyman or State Senator) fortunate to have department members who maintain active ties with our state legislators and with local (county and city) officials. It is important that all department members reach out to public officials and assure their attendance. Usually the costs for local officials are borne by the local posts and counties. This is the unsung work; without individual outreach to specific public officials we would have an empty hall. In addition to public officials we also invite leaders from fellow veterans’ organizations and state military leadership. Their attendance is based on our on-going relations with these other organizations and the opportunity for veterans to meet with other veterans. Legislative breakfast-Shown at the 2007 NJ Legislative Breakfast are from left: NJ SVC Carl Singer, PNP Florence Rosen; Congressman Donald M. Payne (D-NJ) and PDC Robert Jacobs. or a national official (Senator or Congressman.) However we never honor an elected official when he is a candidate for re-election. After selecting a potential honoree we identify a JWV member who has access in order to personally invite our honoree. We “manage” our honoree” to assure that his calendar remains open, that he prepares an appropriate speech, and that proper biographical information is received along with photos. We also select veteran-specific honorees who we invite as our guests to the breakfast and who are recognized with a plaque. This year our other honorees were the New Jersey service officers from each of the veterans’ organization. Last year we honored the CEOs of the three State of New Jersey Veterans’ Homes. 3. ASSURING ATTENDENCE In addition to state officials we welcome Mayors, Police Chiefs, City Council members, etc. We are www.jwv.org 4. LOGISTICS The breakfast is usually held on the first Sunday in May. The primary logistics involve booking a hotel for the breakfast and preparing a suitable menu at reasonable price. Additionally, rooms are provided for overnight guests, and a Dutch-treat dinner is held the previous evening. The National Commander and Ladies’ Auxiliary President frequently attend the breakfast, and we provide them with appropriate accommodations and local travel support. Additional logistic requirements include plaques for honorees, flowers, seating assignments, place cards, etc. 5. PROGRAM A timed agenda is most helpful in making the event successful. There is plenty of “mix and mingle” time prior to the formal program. We start the formal program promptly, and we keep the program crisp. An Honor Guard presents the colors, and we are then led in the singing of our national anthem. An invocation follows. Dignitaries are introduced, the keynoter speaks and we then recognize our Legislator of the Year who then makes an acceptance speech. The governor frequently makes an appearance Continued on page 11 November 2007 LET US NOT COMMIT THE SIN OF SILENCE By Robert E. Pickard, M.D., COL ( r ), JWV 75th Anniversary of March against Nazism Chairman, President Florida Gulf Stream Chapter AUSA When PNC David Magidson came to me with his idea to have a dinner to commemorate the JWV Protest March in New York City against Hitler’s rise to power in Germany in 1933, I was skeptical. Don’t get me wrong! I thought the idea to honor the JWV leadership of a march of thousands through the streets of Manhattan in March 1933 against Nazism was SUPER IMPORTANT! sands of spectators until JWV presented a formal protest to the then mayor of NYC. PNC Magidson wanted all JWV to be PROUD that they are still part of an organization of veterans whose blood was spilled in all the combats of America from the War of Independence until today in defense of freedom, justice and the American Way and which was not afraid to confront the Nazis in 1933! While I am at the front of the line in any protest against Nazism in any form I said to PNC Magidson that a $250.00 per plate dinner in Washington, DC, on Saturday March 8, 2008, is going to be a hard sell. PNC Magidson said that he wanted JWV and the rest of the world to remember that the JWV was at the forefront of anti-Nazism from the very first moment Hitler came to power. He said that as a young boy he had wondered why JWV or Jews in general had done nothing to fight the Nazis early on before they could implement their “Final Solution to the Jewish Problem,” before there was a Holocaust! I told PNC Magidson that I would accept cochairmanship of this very special event for JWV. I told PNC Magidson that I would accept this challenge to mark the 75th Anniversary of the JWVled march in New York against the Nazis only if I could bring this celebration up-to-date. What did that mean? I answered that this dinner to commemorate the anti-Nazi Protest March in 1933 must also mark the JWV stance in the forefront of our present Global War on Terrorism. He understood and consented. PNC Magidson told me that, when he found out that JWV had led the way in a huge protest march against Nazism in March, 1933, in New York, that he was PROUD! PNC Magidson wanted all the JWV and other veterans and other civilians to know that the JWV was the point man in this huge march with the American Legion, VFW, and all the other veterans’ groups right behind us! We, JWV, led the way! We did not commit the sin of silence in the face of the coming Holocaust. Too tragic that the rest of America and the World sat silent despite our leadership until Hitler gobbled up Europe and threatened Britain and America almost ten years later. PNC Magidson wanted the World today to know that the JWV did not sit passively back and let the Shoah come without a wimper. NO! JWV stood up tall. JWV led the American Legion and the VFW and all the others through the streets of Manhattan in March 1933 to the cheers of thou10 The Jewish Veteran What I want all my readers to understand is this: That today, as in 1933, JWV is “like a lone voice crying in the wilderness” against the threat of world tyranny and terrorism. We in JWV cannot commit the sin of silence any more today than we could in 1933. We must raise our voice once more against tyranny. We must lead the American Legion and VFW and all the other veterans groups and the civilian population as well to raise our voices, stand up and be heard against those who are Holocaust deniers and sponsors of the Global War on Terrorism which is killing and maiming the brave men and women in our Military today! The dinner to mark the 75th Anniversary of the JWV-led march of thousands in New York to protest Hitler’s rise to power in Germany in 1933 MUST also recognize JWV’s leadership role in voicing our protest of the religious fanatics’ led Global War on Terrorism! Help us, dear comrades and readership, to reach the American Legion and the VFW and all Continued on next page www.nmajmh.org Letters to the Editor Legislative Breakfast Continued from page Continued from page 9 strength to go forward. so we maintain the flexibility to allow him to speak should he so desire. The program concludes with awards to additional honorees, the singing of God Bless America, and the colors are then retrieved. We hope you will continue to keep the Virginia Tech family in your thoughts and prayers as we begin to recover from this tragedy. As much as we deeply appreciate each and every message, we regret that we cannot respond individually to the thousands upon thousands of cards, letters, and other expressions of sympathy and support. But, please be assured that we are humbled and thankful for this outpouring of care and the reassurance that it provides. Again, we are most grateful for your thoughtfulness and send you our wishes for peace. Sincerely, Charles W. Steger, President 6. PUBLICITY Publicity is a key to the success of any event. Publicity includes reminders and invitations to all posts, letters to all legislators, newspaper postings, etc. HOW-TO Planning is done in great detail beginning at least six months before the event. Responsibility is delegated to various individuals and sub-teams. Progress is monitored at each team meeting, and there is a free exchange of ideas. A total of seven team meetings is usually required. Continued from previous page the other veterans’ groups to once more join JWV in standing tall and raising our collective voice against tyranny. Meet me and PNC Magidson and all the other leaders of JWV, the American Legion, VFW and all the others in Washington, DC, on the evening of March 8, 2008, at the 75th Anniversary Celebration of JWV’s Protest March Against Nazism 1933! Details of specific time and place to be announced. Combating the Sin of Silence - The 75th Anniversary of the Jewish War Veterans’ Protest March Against Nazi Germany JWV Dinner Reservation and Donation Form — March 8, 2008, Washington, DC Name Address City, State, Zip Phone Email Gold Medal people at $1,000 per person Silver Medal people at $500 per person Bronze Medal people at $250 per person Medal of Honor Tables @ $1,500 per table of eight Please make checks payable to JWV and return completed form with payment to: JWV of the USA 1811 R St., NW Washington, DC 20009 $___________ Voluntary supplementary donation to the National Museum of American Jewish Military History www.jwv.org November 2007 11 Commentary By BOB ZWEIMAN, PNC, Chairman, Coordinating Committee, President, NMAJMH Rebalancing The Economy Toys, foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals, and other products manufactured, grown, or developed in China have been recalled as dangerous or toxic. Yet the trade deficit with China keeps growing without any offsets [with all of the material coming from the producers, we find a need to create an International Better Business Bureau with authority because the US Government won’t even try to make an attempt.] An American toy “manufacturer” has outsourced his production to China and acts as a broker in the sale and distribution of toys while laying off industrial workers in the United States. Our county has become a bargain basement for foreign purchasers with dollars earned from American consumers. The American consumer is being taken big time, and even worse, he or she is funding the foreign purchases. Isolation--Protectionism are just words. Pride and Prejudice [could be a good name for a book] are just words. Outsourcing—profit are more than just words. Trade Deficit—National Debt are more than just words. So, how do you avoid becoming an economic puppet to the global words that down you? So, how do you ingrain a nationalistic component into America’s economic doings? By a nationalistic component, I mean that we should be thinking of our own economy at the same time that the foreign investor drains our economy. Wake up and stop being sucked in as a result of oil imports and defective products. The need for alternate fuel sources is vital and mandatory to allow us to have our pride rather than to suffer global disdain. It was probably 20 years ago that I suggested that in our State of New Jersey, we had trust funds from unemployment taxes and other such sources whose solvency for intended use, in theory, was to come from the income they generated. I recommended that instead of investing them in so-called safe or conservative assets, it would be reasonable to invest them into funding to be used by our Economic Development Agency to bring new business into the state or to enhance the viability of existing businesses to provide the funding necessary to generate income to the trust funds while, at the same time, building our state economy. Great idea since there would be controls over the business funding while providing economic growth. It was shot down very easily when the bottom line turned out to be 12 The Jewish Veteran that these so-called trust funds were invested in State debt securities and thus actually provided the difference between a balanced budget and one in deficit. They are not “Trust Funds” but were reserves to be used where the true monies were non-existent. We had invested our trust funds into New Jersey debt; we borrowed our own funds in creative accounting to delude you and me that we were being lied to about the true imbalance. Every nation thinks only for itself except the United States (called nationality). Interesting, when we increased our sanctions against Iran—among our European allies there was little movement, with France, Italy and Germany holding back since they have multibillion trades with Iran. American national pride, production, and employment must be the prime constant in growth: Is it wrong=No. Is it right=No. Must it be recognized=Yes. Must it be used by us=Yes. Our potential is important, but it is of no value unless we act on it. If not used, it becomes a wasted asset at our cost and expense allowing the creation of a deficit for use in buying industry and service industries. Veterans returning from Afghanistan and Iraq find their jobs no longer exist; their businesses have become zero; their injuries prevent them from acceptability in the job market. There are very few, if any, avenues for them to get funding either by way of business development funds or venture capital financing. The government owes them an obligation to access funding, which can be accomplished through SBA programming or other government funding. It can be exercised federally or possibly through supervised State agencies, such as the EDA in New Jersey, which are now operative in many States. The States are in position to help with business improvement methodology. The plan would probably have to be phased in over a pre-determined period of time such as 5 or 10 years—but not longer. The government would have Continued on next page www.nmajmh.org Continued from previous page to deposit the trust funds without using the funds to pay either principal or interest on State-secured bonding, which would also have the effect of showing the viability of the funds. The Congress would have to develop sources of income and spending reduction. It can also put reins on the traffic tariff rule and eliminate the inequities. It should be acknowledged that there is a global disrespect of the US and its economy. But, to their dismay, sharp changes in our GDP have a similar effect on them and their economies. No use laughing if you are next in line. Especially your industry and jobs are being outsourced, and your housing is being foreclosed. Actually there is also an alternate approach. Through the years the debts owed by nations were forgiven bi-laterally through the IMF or other International agencies. We should seek to employ such an approach which will call for an international trade requiring an equal tariff between nations—so that we will charge them back what they charge us. For example, in the auto industry, we charge them a 2% tariff on their imports into the United States; they charge us a 24% tariff on goods we export to them. Tariff stability is part of the problem, but it would be easier to be enacted. It would cause a hell of a stir from our competitors. We would no longer be the patsy. We would be in the position to give our returning troops a recognition of the obligation we owe to them—an obligation which we have ignored for a great number of years. New Annual Electronic Filing Requirement for Small Tax-Exempt Organizations e-Postcard (Form 990-N) Beginning in 2008, small tax-exempt organizations that previously were not required to file returns may be required to file an annual electronic notice, Form 990-N, Electronic Notice (e-Postcard) for Tax-Exempt Organizations not Required To File Form 990 or 990-EZ. This filing requirement applies to tax periods beginning after December 31, 2006. Organizations that do not file the notice will lose their tax-exempt status. Small tax-exempt organizations, whose gross receipts are normally $25,000 or less, are not required to file Form 990, Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax, or Form 990-EZ, Short Form Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax. With the enactment of the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (PPA), these small tax-exempt organizations will now be required to file electronically Form 990N, also known as the e-Postcard, with the IRS annually. Exceptions to this requirement include organizations that are included in a group return, private foundations required to file Form 990-PF, and section 509(a)(3) supporting organizations required to file Form 990 or Form 990-EZ. In addition, this filing requirement does not apply to churches, their integrated auxiliaries, and conventions or associations of churches. The IRS began mailing educational letters www.jwv.org in July 2007 notifying small tax-exempt organizations that they may be required to file the e-Postcard. The IRS is developing an electronic filing system (there will be no paper form) for the e-Postcard and will publicize filing procedures when the system is completed and ready for use. The PPA requires the IRS to revoke the tax-exempt status of any organization that fails to meet its annual filing requirement for three consecutive years. Therefore, organizations that do not file the e-Postcard (Form 990-N), or an information return Form 990 or 990-EZ for three consecutive years, will have their tax-exempt status revoked as of the filing due date of the third year. If you would like additional information about this new filing requirement, including notification when the filing system is ready, or information about other new developments, subscribe to Exempt Organization’s EO Update, a regular e-mail newsletter that highlights new information posted on the Charities pages of irs. gov. [Editor’s Note: The Jewish Veteran is publishing the above current information from the IRS for the benefit of our posts. We will publish more detailed information as it becomes available. Please check for updates on the IRS web site, www.irs.gov.] November 2007 13 Across the Generations of Jewish Military Service [Editor’s Note: 1st LT Isaac Greenberg was unable to attend the 112th Annual National Convention of the JWV due to his military obligations. We are proud to publish excerpts of the remarks he had prepared for all of our readers.] My name is Isaac Greenberg. I am a 1st Lieutenant Military Intelligence Officer, Class of 2005 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and currently assigned to the 1-32 Infantry BN, 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, New York. Thank you to the Jewish War Veterans for giving me this opportunity to share my Jewish experience as I continue my journey in the United States Army. I apologize I cannot be with you today as I am currently at Fort Polk, Louisiana, at the Joint Readiness Training Center preparing soldiers to deploy to Iraq in the near future. First and foremost, I want to thank all the Jewish War Veterans for your military service and setting the foundation of what a Jewish American soldier should emulate. I highly respect the Jewish War Veterans organization. My Zadie served in the Navy as a gunner’s mate on several Merchant Marine ships during WWII and is a past Commander of Post 194 of the Jewish War Veterans in Phoenix, Arizona. Since I was a young boy, I was always interested in hearing my Zadie and others share their war experiences. It is incredible! NOW I am able to mix amongst the ranks with all the fine warriors amidst this fine organization. Look amongst yourselves, to your right and to your left. You have come together from different backgrounds, have different stories to share; yet, you are all able to unite with one another and distinguish yourselves as Jewish heroes who have served selflessly for your country. The Jewish Chapel at the United States Military Academy at West Point is an amazing place. This is where I first encountered a special brotherhood of veterans who have contributed to every war 14 The Jewish Veteran LT Greenberg and his grandfather, William H. Rosenberg, in his WWII Navy uniform since WWII. The Jewish War Veterans from the Hudson Valley and its surrounding area attend services and sponsor the Kabbalat Shabbat Oneg every weekend. My fellow classmates and I enjoyed listening to all their stories and hearing about their acts of heroism during their service to our country. I have heard stories from soldiers in the Battle of the Bulge, Okinawa, Desert Storm as well as many others. The one message these Jewish veterans were adamant about and repeated over and over as they told their stories is the importance of finding strength through one’s Judaism. I always figured Judaism would have a strong presence for me considering my upbringing and family background. Growing up, I had the privilege of attending Tucson Hebrew Academy, Camp Ramah and United Synagogue Youth. I was raised in a culturally rich environment where Judaism was part of my daily life. I never realized how valuable my Judaism is until I was deployed to Afghanistan this past July. I joined the Army because I feel it is my obligation to give back to our country. As Americans we take too much for granted. At the Academy, my www.nmajmh.org chaplain, Rabbi Carlos Huerta repeatedly emphasized our role as Jewish leaders in the Army. I never really understood all the implications of this concept until I arrived in Afghanistan. My first Shabbat in Afghanistan (Bagram) was amazing. There were three other Jewish soldiers. I was infatuated…here I was in a Muslim country observing Shabbat just a couple countries away from Israel. Since we were deployed, we weren’t allowed to drink alcohol, however, for religious purposes, we were entitled to drink wine for Kiddush…so, the four of us drank the whole bottle as we shared our Jewish experiences in the Army. It is a memory I will cherish and share for the rest of my life! The following week I went to another base where I led Shabbat services for three soldiers; one wasn’t Jewish yet, interested in who we are and what we believe. I used this opportunity to embrace my Judaism and welcome an interested soul. Finally, a week later I arrived at my post. I quickly learned I was the only Jewish soldier in my Battalion. Ooooookay! I thought, “This is going to be interesting!” I grew up in a strong conservative household where observing Shabbat was the one night that brought the family closer together. We invited guests into our home, shared stories and sang z’mirot. It is a most welcoming time, something that I hold deeply and treasure. In Afghanistan, I learned what it means to be a congregation of one. Every Friday night, I went to the Chapel to usher in the Shabbat, welcoming it in song and prayer. I lit Shabbat candles, drank grape juice for Kiddush and rejoiced in the Shabbat service. I actually sang out loud as if I were in synagogue filled with its congregants. Sure, it seemed a little awkward; however, it felt good and I found it gave me tremendous strength and a greater appreciation for enjoying the peace of the Shabbat. Additionally, Shabbat is a time of reflection and a time where I was able to escape the eccentrics of war. www.jwv.org Just the week before Chanukah, I was out on a mission where a soldier came up to me, introduced himself as another Jewish soldier. I could tell he was excited to be around another Jewish soldier since there are so few of us. After the mission I gave him a menorah and candles to take back to his base. When I returned to my base, the chaplain said a Jewish soldier was looking for me to observe Chanukah. Each night we lit the candles, played dreidle…BUT no latkes! I enjoyed having another Jew around to share the customs and traditions of Chanukah. For Purim, a visiting Rabbi came to conduct services and read Megilat Esther. Although it had been a while, I laid tefillin. We had a very nice service, ate Kosher MREs and enjoyed traditional Jewish bakery goods the Rabbi’s congregation sent with him. Once again, thank you for inviting me as your speaker. I wish I were able to physically stand before you. Perhaps, plans may change for next year; however, my orders are to return to Afghanistan June-2008. For a second time, thank you to all Jewish War Veterans for you military service and setting the foundations of what a Jewish American soldier should emulate. Thank you for your support and dedication both on and off the battlefield. Thank you, comrades! GERMAN & JAPANESE War Souvenirs Wanted! I am interested in: Helmets, Uniforms, Medals, Gas Masks, Buttons, Canteens, Badges, Hats, Belts, Bayonets, Patches, Daggers, Flags, Knives, and Many Other Unique Items. Buy•Sell•Trade Both World Wars Marc J. Cohen P.O. Box 100637 Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33310-0637 Phone: (954) 565-9754 Panzerfaust1945@comcast.net November 2007 15 JWV Leadership Mission to Israel Package includes: • Round trip coach class tickets on El Al Israel Airlines, from Newark, NJ. • Transfers to/from hotel (if you fly with the group) • 9 full days of sightseeing in an air-conditioned bus with the services of an English speaking guide • All entrance fees to sites as per program. • All taxes and service fees as imposed by hotels • 8 nights in 5 star (Israeli standard) hotels. 1 night in a 4 star Kibbutz hotel. • Full Israeli buffet breakfast and dinner daily Cost: • $2450.00 (based on double occupancy) plus $230.00 estimated airport tax and fuel surcharge. This price includes air and land fare, and airport taxes. (Airport taxes subject to increase based on oil prices). • $1695.00 for land fare only • $540.00 additional for single room supplement. The last person to join may have to pay additional single room supplement if a roommate is not available. • Airline Business Class upgrade cost upon request. • $179.00 per person Comprehensive Travel Insurance, including cancellation fees. (Strongly recommended). Or just $28.00 for medical insurance while in Israel. Please contact Aviatours for more information. A $250.00 deposit is required at time of registration. For more information, please contact Christy Turner at JWV Headquarters at: Phone: (202) 265-6280 • Fax: (202) 234-5662 • E-mail:cturner@jwv.org If you want to extend your stay in Israel or visit other countries, please contact David or Mary at Aviatours: Phone: (516) 867-2200 • (888) 574-2566 • Fax: (516) 377-4983 E-mail: info@aviatours.net Day 1, Saturday, Feb. 9, 2008 Overnight non stop flight to Israel from Newark, NJ. Dinner, in-flight entertainment and breakfast on board. Day 2, Sunday, Feb, 10 Arrive at Ben Gurion airport. Meet and assist by aviatours team. Transfer to our Tel Aviv hotel. Check in. Dinner and overnight. Day 3, Monday, Feb 11 After an abundant Israeli buffet breakfast we take a panoramic tour of Tel Aviv, stop at Rabin’s Square at the site of his assassination and visit the Palmach Museum (the story of the military organization created before the independence war). Afternoon visit to the Independence Hall. Proceed to Old Jaffa the city of Jonas, to visit the house of Simon the Tanner. Back to our hotel for dinner. Guest Speaker (US Ambassador). Day 4, Tuesday, Feb 12 Depart Tel Aviv towards Caesarea by the Sea, The Roman city built by Herod. St. Paul was imprisoned here before being expelled to Rome. Continue to Megiddo, the Biblical layered city overlooking the Valley of Armageddon. In Haifa we visit the beautiful Bahaii Gardens. Afternoon meeting with cadets of the Pnimiya Zvait (a mini West Point). Dinner with the Mayor and a presentation about Haifa under February 9-20, 2008 Day Day Day Day Day Day Day Day missiles attack during the July 2006 war with the Hezbollah. Overnight in Haifa. 5, Wednesday, Feb 13 We start the day by taking a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. In the middle of the sea we shut the engines and read the scriptures (Mark 6:45-52). In this holy place we can visualize Him walking on the water. We dock near Capernaum to visit the synagogue where Jesus preached. Proceed to Tabghathe site of the multiplication of the fish and bread and then Mount of Beatitudes. Afternoon trip to Nazareth, to visit the Church of Annunciation and Cana where the first miracle of water turning into wine took place. Couples who wish to renew their marriage vows can do so here. The Biblical Village of Nazareth – a hands-on park depicting life in Nazareth in Jesus time. Dinner in our hotel in Haifa. 6, Thursday, Feb 14 Ascend to the Golan Heights. Stop at Shalom Observation Point for a magnificent view of the Sea of Galilee; See the story of old Gamla, visit Mt. Bental (an ex IDF bunker) and take a look over Syria. At Kibbutz El Rom we watch a video about the Yom Kippur famous tank battle that took place there. Meet an IDF unit. Briefing about situation along the Syrian-Lebanese border. Visit a Kibbutz and meet its members to discuss their special form of life. Overnight at Kibbutz Hagoshrim hotel. 7, Friday, Feb 15 Visit Gesher – a strategic point on the Jordan River. Continue south through the Jordan Valley until we reach Jerusalem. We celebrate our entrance to Jerusalem at the top of Mt. of Olives in the traditional way. See how Jerusalemites receive the Shabbat at the Kotel (Wailing Wall). See the new “Chain of Generations” – a unique exhibit of the chain of generations of the Jewish People. Shabbat Dinner at our hotel. 8, Saturday, Feb 16 A full day tour to the Dead Sea and Massada. We first climb to Massada by a cable car and visit the palace-fort built by Kind Herod and the last standpoint of the Jews in their rebellion against the Romans. Hundreds committed a group suicide here rather than fall in Roman hands. Descend to take a dip in the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth. Enjoy the healthy minerals of the sea, nature’s gift to your skin. Visit Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls where found. On the way back we stop for a coffee and a Camel ride at a Bedouin Camp. Dinner and leisure time in Jerusalem. 9, Sunday, Feb 17 Start the day at Bethlehem and visit the Church of the Nativity to see and touch the cave where Jesus was born. Visit with a possible Police or IDF briefing about the Perimeter Barrier around Jerusalem. Proceed to “Yad Vashem” to visit the new Holocaust Museum. Here we will have a discussion about the Shoa with a scholar from the museum. Drive around Gilo and Har Homa to see the Jerusalem perimeter. Visit the Israel Museum to see the Dead Sea Scrolls and the model of the Second Temple. Visit the Herodian Quarter (the underground section of the Jewish Quarter in the Old City). Meeting with a Knesset Member, General (Ret). Matan Vilnai, an IDF Veteran, to discuss the situation in the Middle East. Overnight in Jerusalem. 10. Monday, Feb 18 After an early breakfast we drive to Mt. Zion to visit the Church of the Dormition, the Cenaculom (the room of the Last Supper) and St. Peter in Galicantu (Caifas house). Visit the Western Wall Tunnel. Continue with a Walking tour of the Christian Quarter. We start at the Ecce Omo where Jesus was sentenced. The Way of the Cross starts here. We will follow its fourteen stations until we reach the Holy Sepulcher Church where Jesus was buried and resurrected. Dinner. Guest Speaker (Brig. General Elihu Ben On – “What does it mean to be a Jerusalemite”)? 11, Tuesday, Feb. 19 Depart Jerusalem to visit Latrun, the memorial site of the Armored Corp. Continue to Tel Hashomer Rehab Center to visit IDF wounded soldiers and veterans. Drive to Tel Aviv for lunch hosted by Zevet – the IDF Veterans organization, followed by a briefing of high ranking IDF officers. Free time for last minute shopping. A farewell dinner and transfer to the airport for our night flight back home. 12, Wednesday, Feb 20 Flight home. Arrive on same day. Welcome home. You have just returned from a lifetime experience. JWV In Action The Department of Maryland recruited members for JWV and NMAJMH at the Baltimore Jewish-American Festival on Sunday and Monday of the 2007 Labor Day weekend. Pictured are (l-r) Martin Lasker, Department Sr. Vice Commander; Col. (ret) Erwin Burtnick, Department Commander; and Martin Greenberg, Post 167 Commander. Camp Pendleton Naval Hospital Commander at a special ceremony presented COL Maxwell & Linda Colon certificates/awards for Posts 385 & 680 and their Ladies Auxiliaries for the year 2006-2007. JWV & JWVA were the only veterans’ group out of many others organizations to receive these awards for service to an active military base. Members of JWV Post 341, Ellenville, NY, participated in the local Fourth of July Parade. From left are Artie Horowitz, Sam Korenblatt, Bernie Kaufman, Dr. Elliot Cohen, Sam Handler, Dr. Walter Sperling, Mike Weiss, Joe Rozman, Sol Albert, Irwin Karchmer, and Henry Solomon with his seeing-eye dog, Schroeder. National Executive Director Herb Rosenbleeth (at left) and Director of Opertions Larry Richardson (at right) greeted former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, who was a recent visitor to the National Museum of American Jewish Military History. JWV Post 440 presented a check to the West Palm Beach VAMC to purchase 10 tickets to the Miami Dolphins/Buffalo Bills football game on Nov. 11 for soldiers returning from service overseas. Shown from left are PC Stan Semel, VA Hospital Program Chairman; Pam MacFredrick, Coordinator of OIF/OEF Veterans Program; Mary Philips, Chief of Voluntary Service and Chief of Recreational Therapy, Charlene Szabo, Director of the West Palm Beach VAMC, and Arnold Zenker, Post 440 VA volunteer. Department of CA officers are shown at their recent installation. From left are Commander Jack Pathman, Jr. V. Commander Allen Miliefsky, Sr. V. Commander Greg Lee, and Judge Advocate Paul Kahn. Members of the Paul A. Rosenbaum Post 44, Cleveland, OH, take patients at local VA hospitals to Cleveland Indians baseball games each year. Shown with patients from the Wade Park and Brecksville VA Hospitals are (from left) PC Sid Wakser; Adjutant Ed Blecher, and Quartermaster Les Brandais. 18 The Jewish Veteran www.nmajmh.org JWV In Action Members of Post 567, Leisure World, Maryland, attended their annual department convention. Front Row from left: Bernie Kipperman, Ray Kurlander, Milt Loube. Rear Row from left: Marty Lasker, Lou Rubenstein, Irv Lipskind, Marvin Franklin, Bert Marks, Bernie Golub. Photo by Bob Stromberg Members of Orange County, CA, Post 760 are shown with their latest Eagle Scout, Ryan DeTarr. For his project, with the help of JWV Post 760, Ryan built the depicted sunshade and play area located at the Seal Beach Animal Shelter so potential owners can visit with the pet prior to adopting it. Pictured from left are: Jerry Ullman, Alvin Selnick, Eagle Scout Ryan DeTarr, Greg Lee, and Steve Field. Shown at the recent installation of officers of Post 354, St. Paul, MN, are Marvin Jacobson, Judge Advocate; Peter Nicktas, 2nd Vice Cmdr; Irv Liener, 1st Vice Cmdr; Irv Rosenblum, Incoming Commander; and Installing Officer Sid Schmuckler. www.jwv.org Stan Bilker, shown at left) Sr.V.Cmdr. of Post 697, is shown helping Rabbi Moshe Goldman deliver a Torah to the Delaware Valley Veterans Home to be used for Shabbat and holiday services. The Jewish Community Center of Rhode Island with the City of Providence as co-sponsor, coordinates a community event with children’s activities, food and merchandise, music and other entertainment. The JWV had a table with membership applications, brochures, copies of the “Jewish Veteran” and answered questions. Shown from left at the event are Herman Wallock PC, David Penn PDC, Harvey Green PDC, Sanford Gorodetsky DC, and Naftali Weissman SVC. Members of the JWV honored a deceased Jewish veteran at our annual wreath laying ceremony at the 112th Annual National Convention in Charleston, SC. November 2007 19 JWV In Action Longtime JWV member Israel (Eli) Weissman (seated) is congratulated at the VA Clinic in Viera, FL, on receiving the Allen Law Memorial Service Award from Brevard Post 639. Shown from left are Rich Levine, Beverly Bray, and Hank Bishins. Fellow award recipient Marie Segal was not available for the photo. PDC George Tilton of LT Robert P. Grover Post #10 is shown holding the Certificate of Appointment from NJ Governor Jon Corzine appointing him to the NJ Council on Armed Forces and Veterans’ Affairs. Shown in the center of the photo is NMAJMH Docent Richard Rosenzweig of the Department of DC who represented the JWV at Memorial Day ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery. Larry Epstein Honored at Testimonial Dinner More than 100 Jewish War Veterans, members of other veterans organizations, family, and friends turned out for the testimonial luncheon on July 29 at the Manhattan V.A.Medical Center honoring Larry Epstein. Epstein, the National Service Officer, Past New York County Commander and Past Florence Greenwald-Manhattan Post 1 Commander; is engaged in a courageous battle against Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis [Lou Gehrig’s Disease]. He is an Army veteran who served from Vietnam through the Gulf War. His illness is considered service-related. Guest speaker PC Warren S. Dolny praised his leadership, especially his work for veterans as the Department of New York’s National Service Officer. PNC Paul Bernstein and Anita Stern each thanked Epstein for two separate incidents at National Conventions when he took people to hospitals and stayed with them until their situations were stabilized. Epstein was presented with a certificate from the National Museum of American Jewish Military History and notification of a leaf in his name on the Museum’s Tree of Honor. Also at the testimonial, Epstein was inducted into the Order of the Silver Rose for Agent Orange victims by Bronx County Commander Helene Van Clief, and New York County Council, which hosted the testimonial, presented him with a plaque from 20 The Jewish Veteran West Point which included General Macarthur’s last speech to the Cadets. He also received a framed copy of Representative Carolyn Maloney’s speech in the Congressional Record in praise of Epstein. Epstein thanked everyone for the support he has July 29 testimonial luncheon for been receiving. He Larry Epstein at Manhattan V.A. concluded by swear- Medical Center. Larry has Lou ing in his successor Gehrig’s Disease. With Larry as New York County are the Department of New York Commander Sidney Officers Quartermaster Sidney Goldberg, Senior Vice Sheldon Blank. Ohren, Junior Vice Jon Zak and Among the mem- Commander Jason A. Kaatz. bers of the American Legion in attendance were two Legionnaires who attended the Jewish War Veterans Allied Mission to Israel, Edward Mallicoat and Fang Wong. www.nmajmh.org JWV In Action Members of Post 126, Cherry Hill, NJ, are shown selling poppies over the 4th of July holiday. From left are Robert Richter, JWV Chief of Staff; Unnamed veteran; David Singer, Post Jr. Vice Commander/ Adjutant; and Sam Podietz, Post Sr. Vice Commander The Dept. of MI JWV and Ladies Auxiliary sponsored a picnic for about 200 patients at the VA Medical Center in Battle Creek, MI. Shown from left are Nathalie Keller, Frank Blasé, Al Lewis, DC Jerry Order, DP Myra Gross, Mel Marsh, Hy Deal, and Ive Bernstein. JWV Members from Bronx County participated in the Israeli Day Parade. Shown from left are Irving Feuer, Lillian Tannen, Donald Tannen, Edward Baraw, Helene Van Clief, Marvin Weingarten, guest Gregory Petitte, and Mel Saks. PNC Norman Rosenshein (at left) and PDC Mike Winnick are shown after PNC Rosenshein spoke at the Opening Ceremonies for the Traveling Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Long Branch, NJ. Members of LT Seth Dvorin Post 972 attended ceremonies dedicating Marlboro Township NJ’s new Veterans Memorial Garden. www.jwv.org Stranding around the piano at Cart Hayden VAMC in Phoenix, Arizona are from left: PDC Nelson Magedman; PDC Richard Askenazi; PDC Jesse Gersten; Department of SW Commander Mel Brody; PC Lester Merritt; PPC Roy fine; and PC Bernie Kaplan. The piano was donated to the VAMC by the Department of Southwest Posts 28, 194, 210, and 619. Photo: Deanna Mintz November 2007 21 Press Releases JWV Demands the Removal or Redeployment of Troops Currently Stationed in South Korea The institution of a border crossing by trains between North and South Korea presages a new cooperation by the two governments of this divided nation across the long-contested DMZ. Trains crossed from both directions amid celebratory fireworks and ushered in a new era of commercial cooperation between the governments of North and South Korea--all in spite of the non-resolution of North Korea’s nuclear threat. With a pull-back from the concentration of troops in Korea, our troops can be available to be sent to other areas where they may be more urgently needed. There is no longer a need for such a large commitment of troops to this one area where the seeds of cooperation are now taking root. A partial rollback of troops from the Korean DMZ will allow for the ability to deploy troops where they might be needed more quickly and more agilely. The JWV urges the DOD to seriously reconsider its massive deployment of troops along the Korean border in light of these new circumstances when the danger in this area is lessening and when US troop strength may be urgently and quickly needed elsewhere. Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America Increases Outreach to Persian Gulf and Global War on Terrorism (PG/GWOT) Military Active Duty and Reserve Component Members As National Commander of the Jewish War Veterans, I am also proud to announce the formation of the Persian Gulf and Global War on Terrorism Outreach Committee at the National Level under the chairmanship of Colonel Nelson L. Mellitz, USAFR, Ret. This committee has two major goals: 1) assist the GWOT veterans and their families while they are deployed and 2) aid the Persian Gulf and GWOT veterans and their 22 The Jewish Veteran families at home. Both of these goals are consistent with the mission that has motivated the JWV since its founding in 1896. Since the start of the GWOT on September 11, 2001, the JWV has been extremely active in supporting all United States military and their families by: a) G iving special care and attention to the families of active duty service persons both at home and overseas, b) Sending care and holiday packages to troops in harm’s way, “Support Our Servicemen and Women Overseas,” c) R ecommending and encouraging congressional representatives to pass authorization and appropriation laws in support of increased benefits for GWOT and all veterans, d) W orking with the Coalition of Veterans Organizations to increase veteran’s benefits, e) P roviding “Service Officers” as Ombudsmen with the Veterans Affairs and military hospitals and centers throughout the country, f) C ontributing funding and volunteers to readiness support centers at military posts, bases, and stations, g) G reeting deploying and returning troops from the GWOT, h) P roviding employment networking opportunities, i) and much, much, more. JWV Repeats Demands to Discipline Officers Who Took Part in What Appeared to be a DOD Proselytizing Video A newly released DOD Inspector General’s Report confirms what the Jewish War Veterans of the USA (JWV) stated in a December 2006 press release calling for an investigation of a video featuring seven military officers in uniform endorsing an Continued on next page www.nmajmh.org Editor’s Corner Continued from page of containers and sniffs for dangerous cargo. The test work was given to Homeland Security, but it seems that the “black box” went into a black hole. Congress should be pushed to give the Department a push. Many of us live near a chemical facility; some of these facilities are near my home in New Jersey. Just go down the New Jersey Turnpike. As part of the Military Spending Bill that the President vetoed was a provision telling the Department of Homeland Security not to pre-empt states and local authorities from enacting stronger security laws around chemical facilities. The chemical producers are against stronger laws since these laws would affect the bottom line. Congress should be pressed to re-introduce this provision. Screening of air baggage and cargo was part of the mandate of the Aviation and Transportation Act that created the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) you see at airports. TSA is required to screen all baggage that enters the airplane, but there is no inspection of cargo placed on commercial flights. We must have Congress introduce legislation to inspect all air cargo whether on passenger planes or commercial planes. What I am proposing is that we must now put our “uniforms” on again and charge up Capitol Hill. Just as we did at San Juan Hill years ago, I, like Teddy Roosevelt, will lead the charge, CHARGE. No other veterans’ group is making Homeland Security a priority issue. We in JWV will, and will charge each of our Representatives with the duty to protect this Country, and We in JWV will stand guard duty to make sure they do. Be sure to be on the line for the Teleconference on Homeland Security on Wednesday, November 28. Continued from previous page evangelical Christian organization, the “Christian Embassy:” Groups like the “Christian Embassy,” which attempt to allow the religious views of evangelical Christians to take precedence over those of other religious groups, and which violate the separation of Church and State must not continue to undermine this most important underpinning of our democracy. We urge the Army and Air Force to implement the “appropriate corrective action” as soon as possible to send the undeniable message that such violations will not be tolerated under any circumstances. Open Letter to Senator Feinstein and Senator Boxer Dear Senator Feinstein and Senator Boxer: When the Congress approved legislation transferring ownership of the land on which the Mt. www.jwv.org Soledad Cross sits to Federal jurisdiction, you both approved and sanctioned the move. In a recent decision regarding the Mojave Cross, a similar monument on public land, the Federal courts have found National Park Service (NPS) conduct and subsequent Congressional acts to maintain a Cross in the Mojave National Preserve violated the Constitution’s First Amendment. On September 6, 2007, a unanimous three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit ruled as improper an act of Congress (P.L. 108-87, section 8121 (2003)) that mandated the exchange of the Federal land with the cross. In light of this recent decision, which should set a precedent for a similar ruling on the JWV suit concerning the Mt. Soledad Cross, we are concerned as to your present position on this issue? The JWV is continuing to pursue its case. We expect a similar ruling from the Courts. We would appreciate your proposals on the issues involved. November 2007 23 New Members The JWV welcomes our newest members to our fold. We hope you will join with us and participate in our many programs and activities. Department At Large Bernice B. Beckwith-100 • Dr. Ben Benjamin-100 • Lee Bernstein-100 • Willard D. Blalock-100 • Allen J. Gardner-100 • Norman Goldstein-100 • Harold W. Wax-100 • Allen S. Wolf-100 Department of California Miriam Brandstatter-60 • Norm Marcovitch-760 • Harvey Lee Canter-786 Department of Connecticut Daniel M. Levy-51 • Stan Sadinsky-51 • Sherwin Joel Baer-142 • Lawrence L. Mitnick-204 • Melvin E. Prager-204 • Stanley E. Saxe-204 Department of Delaware Arnold C. Harris-767 • Ronald S. Riebman-767 Department of District of Columbia Allan J. Porter-58 • Charles Weller-58 • Alexander Berlin-589 Department of Florida Erle Taube-202 • Wayne A. Peters-300 • Abe Schamis-321 •William Becker-373 • Sidney Bruskin-373 • Bernard G. Epstein-373 • Robert B. Harwood-373 • Joseph H. Richman-459 • Gerald Chernin-501 • Earl M. Perlov-502 • Lernard Gottesfeld-639 • Eugene E. Heslin-639 • Dr. Henry Lober-639 • Carl M. Segal-705 Department of Illinois Lilli M. Greenbaum-29 • Melvin M. Kaplan-29 • David C. Lemmon-153 • Howard A. Gordon-407 Stuart M. Raben-510 • Mitchell J. Rycus-510 Department of Minnesota Sylvan D. Kamens-162 Department Of Missouri/Kansas Lonni A. Fuchs-605 • Lawrence D. Gordon-605 Department of New Jersey Cole Robinson-39 • Richard A. Castro-126 • Harold L. Minkoff-126 • Burton L. Nussbaum-126 • Morton F. Rubinstein-126 • Harold A. Strauss126 • Herbert M. Young-126 • Herb Friend-133 • Michael Helioff-133 • Joel Katz-133 • Herbert Friedman-695 • Fredgrick Friedman-740 Department of New York Louis Levitt-41 • Bernard Oratz-41 • Sam Guttman-46 • Samuel Jaffe-46 • William S. Shefrin-389 • Todd D. Rosenfield-425 • Robert J. Winzinger-425 • Robert Braverman-652 • Irving Leiffer-655 • Al Schein-655 • Gerald Popkin-673 • Marvin Goldstein-709 • Harold Hoffman-709 • Laszlo Hoffstadter-756 • Theodore Holmes-758 • Irving Yellin-758 Department of Ohio Stanley Bernath-44 Department Of Pennsylvania Louis M. Tolchin-181 • Robert L. Cohen-706 • Stanley M. Goldman-706 • Howard P. Morris-791 Department Of Rhode Island Burton M. Gerstenzang-23 • Jeff Horovitz-23 • Fred Raisner-23 Department of Maryland Jonathan G. Mark-167 • Albert B. Polovoy-167 • Donna Leigh Kahn-380 • Morton H. Katz-567 Department of Southwest (AZ-NM) Louis Kosover-210 • Seymour Heiss-619 • Calvin Klarfeld-619 • Arthur H. Sharf-619 Department of Massachusetts Jerome Nathan-26 • Donald R. Fisher-211 Department of TX-AR-LA-OK David Albert-256 • Albert Dunks-256 • Gil Elan256 • Arthur Kaplan-256 Department of Nevada Herbert Muskin-65 Department Of Virginia/North Carolina Edward Allan Forman-158 Department of Michigan 24 The Jewish Veteran www.nmajmh.org People and Places • On July 31, 2007, members of JWV Post 609, Monroe Township, NJ, sponsored a barbeque for disabled veterans at the Menlo Park Veterans’ Home. Representatives of the Post were assisted by children of NJ National Guard members, many of whom are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Among those attending the event were Doris Kadish, Barbara Gudis, George Applebaum, Ben-Ami Kadish, and Elmer Schwartz. • Stan Atkins of JWV Post 373, Tampa, FL, learned from his daughter, currently serving in the Army in Afghanistan, that women and children living in her area of Afghanistan were in need of vitamin supplements. In response to this request members of Post 373 collected $210 to buy 3,000 chewable children’s vitamins and 3,000 women’s vitamins to be sent to his daughter for distribution to women and children in Afghanistan. • Members of Friedman-Paul Post 201, Tucson, AZ, served soft drinks at the annual VA Hospital Carnival. Members participating included Eve Le Vine, Irwin and Norma Brewster, Saul Stoltz, Bob Epstein, Shirley Brown, Tom and Rosella Bonham, Murray Handler, and Mel Levine. • Jerusalem Post 180 held its annual tribute to Orde Wingate on October 1, 2007, with a special monument and trail dedication that included a short tour of the entire area of Kochav HaYarden-Belvoir (Crusader Fortress) where a special ceremony sponsored by the Council for the Preservation of Historic Buildings, the Wingate Institute, and the Government Nature and National Park Authority took place. Past Post Commander Dan Nadel has served for many years as chairman of the Wingate Committee. • Among those honored at the annual Military Ball of the Kings County Council of the JWV were NY Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly, KeySpan Energy’s CEO Robert B. Catell, and former Borough President Howard Golden. Mr. Catell is working with PNC Jerome Cohen and a www.jwv.org consortium of local business leaders to raise funds for the restoration of the Brooklyn War Memorial at Cadman Plaza. • Fred Solberg, a member of PVT Henry Levenson Post 285 has recently participated in the Veterans History Project sponsored by the Library of Congress. Mr. Solberg’s plane crashed in Sicily in 1943, and he was eventually captured by the Germans and sent to Stalag 17b, a notorious war prison in Austria. • The Kew Forest-Woodside-Loitz Post 250 and their Ladies Auxiliary (Forest Hills, NY) presented a plaque to City Councilwoman Melinda Katz for her efforts on behalf of veterans. Commander Spencer Pollinger and Auxiliary President Ruth Weichselbaum helped with the presentation. • JWV Hartford Laurel Post 45, Connecticut, has contributed several original art works to the Connecticut Veterans Home that are now hung throughout the campus. • The Monmouth-Ocean County Council of the JWV held its 13th annual Law Enforcement Breakfast on September 23, 2007. This year they proudly honor Major Wendy J. Galloway, The Commanding Officer for Community Affairs, NJSP; Robert A. Honecker, Jr., recently retired 1st Assistant Monmouth County Prosecutor, Terry P. Farley, recently retired 1st Assistant Ocean County Prosecutor and The Ruditsky Family with three family members serving police departments in Marlboro, Manalapan and at Rutgers. • Members of Major Gary Grant Post 680 and its Ladies’ Auxiliary visit victims of spinal-cord injuries at the VA Long Beach Healthcare System on the third Wednesday of every month. A priority of each visit is meeting with each of the veterans. • Members of JWV Post 65, Nevada, presented funds to Cub Scout Pack 713 to form Boy Scout Troop 713. Post Commander George Barnett Continued on page 31 November 2007 25 Museum News President’s Message By PNC Robert M. Zweiman The name, National Museum of American Jewish Military History, reflects the mission and intent of our Museum. Our Museum’s name very simply spells out what we do and what we will continue to do to corroborate, document and preserve the contributions of Jewish Americans to the peace and freedom of the United States. We stand as a fire-wall against the deniers who would detract from the work of America’s Jews who have fought to make this nation great. So come visit with us at our site in our Nation’s Capital, but more importantly join with us in confirming this reality to the American people by disseminating these truths as part of our program, the American Jewish Military Heritage Project, a new internet educational program that includes websites, films, and literature resources available for From the Exhibits Chair The time is fast approaching when we will commemorate two important dates in the history of JWV and the NMAJMH. First, In March 2008 we will mark the 75th anniversary of the march in New York City to boycott Nazi goods and their regime. Second, in September 2008, we celebrate the 50th anniversary of our museum’s receiving our charter. Both events prove our staying power and our accomplishments through the years. In addition, the first PNC Harvey S. Friedman Memorial award (initiated and funded by his family) will be presented to a college student pursuing museum studies. We plan to award this in March at our NEC. You will be receiving further information as we go along. JWV, JWVA, and the NMAJMH will always strive to meet the aims and ideals of our respective organizations. On a related subject, we find that people from every walk of life admire the museum. Every exhibit is always put up with the highest level of research and by professional 26 The Jewish Veteran use by you in reaching out to your community. You can help accomplish this through use of our traveling exhibits together with lectures at your local Jewish Community Centers, colleges, community events or wherever people meet to learn or seek valued understanding. You don’t have to be a member to pursue this joint objective. Please call us at 202-265-6280 so that we may work together defining Jewish Heritage and Jewish contributions to America’s security and growth. Florence Levine, PNP people to assure that it is true to its subject. There is never a “hodge-podge” exhibit to merely fill space. For this reason, I must call to your attention some actions that can prove troublesome. We welcome everyone’s support and input; however, no one can simply say that they want an exhibit in our museum, even if they raise funds for it, and expect us to permit them to proceed. If any member, friend, or interested party would like to have an exhibit in the museum, they are welcome to submit to us first what they would like and how much they will raise to support it, and then we can review the basics before it can proceed. The reason is simple; it is because the Officers and Board of Directors are responsible for the museum. Everyone else can walk away if there is trouble. It has happened before. Therefore, I ask all of you to please understand the position of those responsible to maintain the good name of our NMAJMH. We want to continue to set an example of a professional museum. www.nmajmh.org Administratively Speaking By Mary Westley Welcome back readers! The small group of museum admin staff has a few items to report. • Along with his twice a week duties as museum docent, volunteer and museum Board of Directors member, Richard Rosenzweig, has successfully sent out 75 letters to national tour companies. We are again working on our outreach program by inviting groups to visit the museum. Richard and Suzanne Goldberg will follow up the letter campaign with a personal phone call. • Volunteer assistant admin, Suzanne Goldberg, has continued to be the “private detective,” aiding in locating new addresses for museum donors, primarily in the Yahrzeit program. She uses all the bells and whistles in her search, and is especially good at one-on-one phone calls, quite often coming across a person who knows this person who knows this person who knows the father of this person, etc; she is great at connecting the dots within family groups and friends. • Jaima Randolph, who renders to the museum 2 hours of admin work a day, is providing much needed assistance with excellent typing skills, accurate filing and proficient processing and packing of traveling displays. • Dr. Jeffrey Greenhut, volunteer military historian/docent and museum Board of Directors member continues to provide informative tours on Mondays during the day and on Monday evenings has been offering his teaching skills on behalf of The Jewish Study Center (DC) in a history class entitled War in the Middle East. The class participants have the luxury of attending class in your museum. During breaks, they have a chance to view current exhibits. We hope that this joint sponsorship will continue in the future. • Last, but definitely, not least, senior historian/docent and museum Board of Directors member, Mr. Albert Lerner, continues to provide not only history, but charm and candor and a deep commitment to the National Museum and to the Jewish War Veterans. Mr. Lerner and Richard Rosenzweig continue their research on the Seligman family tree. AMERICAN JEWISH MILITARY HERITAGE PROJECT By Ray Biondo, M.D. The American Jewish Military Heritage project, as a 100% web-based unit of our Museum, can educate at almost zero cost many millions of viewers not only in the United States but also world wide. It spans the range from a coloring book for young children to enough materials to write an M.A. thesis in a Judaic Studies or a History program. Its components are welcoming letters from the Museum President and JWV National Commander, approximately 40 web sites related to veterans, a list of children’s books about veterans, over 170 book and magazine article citations regarding Jewish veterans, the 1982 and 1996 Arlington National Cemetery Veterans Day speeches of PNC of the Jewish War Veterans, Bob Zweiman, information on the American Jewish Medal of Honor recipients and other distinguished Jewish heroes and two sections on the 350 years of Jews in America and of Jews in the U.S. military. In addition, there is a series of films from the www.jwv.org Department of Veterans Affairs entitled, “The Face Behind the File.” This is your program. It can be reached by visiting the home page of the museum website at www.nmajmh.org and clicking on the first menu item, American Jewish Military Heritage Project. If you have any suggestions for additional sections or any constructive criticism, please let us know. We need volunteers to help (1) increase the number of book and magazine article citations (2) to provide weekly/monthly checks to see if the listed web sites are still operable, and, if they are not up, search for other suitable web sites (3) scan the web sites to see if they meet our standards. If you would be interested in doing any one or more of the above, please contact Ray Biondo, M.D., at 501-835-6512 or raybiondo@yahoo.com. Thank you. November 2007 27 Donations • May 8, through October 18, 2007 The National Museum of American Jewish American Military History is pleased to acknowledge the following people for their donations to the Museum. Life Membership Dr. Jeffrey Greenhut Debbie Wasserman Schultz $50,000+ The Paul Ourieff 1991 Living Trust (B) $25,000+ Department of Pennsylvania (75th, M, T, G) $5,000+ PNC David and Carol Magidson (75th ) • Dept. of New York (75th, M) • PDC Lawrence Epstein (Vietnam) • Queens County Council (T) $2,000+ Fegelson-Young-Feinberg Post 697 (75th) • Foundation for the Jewish Community (B) • Congregation OHR Yisrael Jewish Community Center of Spring Valley (T) • LCDR Ben Dobris Post 750 (T) • Asbury Park-Ocean Post 125 (T) $1,000+ PFC Fred Hecht Post 425 (G) • Harry Ettlinger (G) • Drizin-Weiss Post 215 (G) • Estate of Sidney Lerner (B) • Neumann-Goldman Post 69 (H) • Anita Richman (H) • PNEC Leroy Vegotsky (H) • Norman Nutkis (Y • T) • PDC Isadore Elbaum (E) • Snyder-Tokson Post 459 (E) • Atlanta Post 112 (E) • Perlman-Matlin Post 800 (E) • Maryland Free State Post 167 (T) $500+ Myron Frank (Y • T) • Kelkey-Blatt Post 575 (G) • Department of Massachusetts (G) • Bridgeport Post 88 (G) • PDC George D. Sepp (G) • Bicentennial Post 976 (G) • David Goldenson (G) • Melvin Palius Jewish Museum Endowment Fund of the Columbus Jewish Foundation (G) • PDC Arthur H. Greenwald (75th ) • Furer-Barag-Wolf Post 126 (T) • Allison Gottlieb (T) • Leonard Lazoff (T) • Neumann-Goldman Post 69 (T) • Greenspun-Radin Post 21 (T) • Rosalind Brooker (T) • PNP Susan and Eugene Nelson (TJWVA) • $250+ Gordon Zacks (G) • George Weston (T) • Sandi Friedman (T) • PDC Maurice Amdur (T • YP) • Department of Pennsylvania Auxiliary (T) 28 The Jewish Veteran $100+ Arthur Fredman (G) • North Hudson – J. George Fredman Post 76 (G) • Edward Goldberg Auxiliary 519 G) • Alan Liss (G) • Rabbi Norman Listokin (G) • Leon Levy (G) • the Nathan Family (G) • Marilyn Ginsberg (G) • B&P/Robert A. Carpenter Post 485 (G) • Sol Luft (G) • Jack and Rhoda Berson (G) • Irving and Estelle Mates (G) • PDP Elaine Cosner (G) • Lester Sacks (75th) • T/Sgt/M E. Lebowitz/Reisman Auxiliary 129 (75th) • Department of Pennsylvania Auxiliary (75th ) • Drizin-Weiss Auxiliary 215 (75th) • Fegelson-Young-Feinberg Auxiliary 697 (75th) • Lois Witt (E) • Paul A. Rosenblum Auxiliary 44 E) • Luann Addis (E) • Abrahamson • Biglow & Spector Auxiliary 354 (GJWVA) • GoodmanTunick-Pickard (GJWVA) • Irwin Hoffer (TD) • DC Sidney Lichter (TD) • PDC Roger Gove (Vietnam) • Harriet Maddy (YD) • Deborah Malafsky (YD) • Douglas Woll (YD) • Jewish Community Board of Akron (EC) • Department of Minnesota (TD) • Department of Michigan (T) • Elin-Unger Post 273 (T) • Milton Weinstein (T) • Sgt. Morganlander-Liblet Post 251 (T) • RobbinsFeldstein Post 178 (T) • Morris and Lorraine Eisenstein (T) • PDC Bert Kaye (T) • Robert Ettlinger (T) • Bicentennial Post 976 (T) • Howard Fishbein (T) • PDC Sumner Kaplan (T) • Nassau Suffolk District Council (T) • White Plains Post 191 (T) • PFC Fred Hecht Post 425 (T) • PDC Jerome and Joanne Blum (T) • Veterans Memorial Hall Inc (T) • PDC Roland Greenwald (T) • Paula Benson (T) • Louis D. Brandeis Post 195 (T) • Lt. Frances Slanger Post 313 (T) • Department of Massachusetts (T) • Ens. Laurence D. Solowey Post 652 (T) • DC Melvin and Maxine Brody (T) • Meyer Katzman (T) • PDC Donald Haber (T) • PDC Larry A. Altersitz (T) • Michael London (T) • PDC Jesse Gersten (T) • Shella Blaustein (T) • Michelle Rizzella (T) • Richard Lanzarone (T) • Marc and Brenda Newman (T) • Shirley Cohen (TJWVA) • PNP Evelyn Mermonstein (TJWVA) • Department of New York Auxiliary (TJWVA) • Department of Massachusetts Auxiliary (TJWVA) • Susan Helsinger (TJWVA) • William Kretchman Auxiliary 730 (TJWVA) • Doris Warsofsky (TJWVA) • Department of New York Auxiliary (TJWVA) • Iris and PNC Ed Goldwasser (TJWVA) • PNP Eleanore K. Bell • (TJWVA) • PDP JoAnn Lifshitz (TJWVA) • Pompano Auxiliary 196 (TJWV) • PNP Sophie and Robert Ruderman www.nmajmh.org JEWISH WAR VETERANS PROTEST MARCH AGAINST NAZI GERMANY Work continues on our upcoming exhibition, Jewish War Veterans Protest March Against Nazi Germany 75th Anniversary. This important new exhibition will be opening in time for the NEC meeting in March 2008. For information about the march and the exhibition, please visit the museum’s website, www.nmajmh.org. On the homepage, go to “News & Special Announcements” to learn about what we are planning and how you can help. You can also read an excerpt from the April 1933 issue of The Jewish Veteran that describes what that day meant to the Jewish War Veterans. PNC David Magidson & Collections Manager/Archivist Pamela Elbe SUPPORT FOR THE MUSEUM Leon Berkowitz Recently I was asked if I wished to chair the Museum Descendants Committee of the Museum. Now you might ask, what is the Museum Descendants Committee? Since 2004, the recorded life members of the past Descendants branch of the Jewish War Veterans organization have been incorporated into the museum membership and provided a three-year single basic or family membership. Many Jewish organizations provide social and volunteer opportunities. For the Descendants of the Jewish War Veterans to pursue this course of action would be redundant. The purpose of the Museum Descendants Committee is to support the museum. In the near future, the museum leadership will be formulating a task force, sending a formal welcoming letter and providing you a list of opportunities that would be available for those members to pursue in helping to support the museum. Whether it is in networking with other museums and Jewish organizations, or by hosting a lecture series at your local school or synagogue, or by assisting in the acquisition of additional information for our computerized program, American Jewish Military Heritage Project, the work that you would provide would be invaluable. I look forward to working with you. (TJWVA) • Eileen Lynch (TJWVA) • PDP Petra and PDC Jason Kaatz (TJWVA) • PDP Lorraine Kaplan (TJWVA) • PDP Beatrice Sklar (TJWVA) • The Greenbaum Family (TJWVA) • Fritzi Weinstein (TJWVA) • Century Village Auxiliary 265 (TJWVA) • Buffalo Grove Auxiliary 89 (TJWVA) • Marilyn Goodman (TJWVA) • John and Bernard Wilner-Natl. Capitol Auxiliary 381 (TJWVA) • Harvey Kaye and Susan Sher Kaye (TJWVA) • Jesse Brams Auxiliary 206 (TJWVA) • Adelle Brenner (TJWVA) • Maurice Rotkopf (YP) • Saul Rosenberg (YP) • PNC David H. Hymes (YP) • Furer-Barag-Wolf Post 126 (YP) • Major 75th : JWV Protest March Against Nazi Germany Exhibit TD: Traveling Display B: Bequest TJWVA: Tree of Honor JWVA E: Endowment Fund YD: Yahrzeit Program anniversary contributions G: General Donation YP: Yahrzeit Program H: Honorial Wall YPJWVA: Yahrzeit Program JWVA M : Museum 50th Anniversary Exhibit V: Funds for proposed Vietnam exhibit T: Tree of Honor JWV KEY Kenneth Klein USAR (Ret) (YP) • West Miami Post 223 (YP) • Fegelson-Young- Feinberg Post 697 (YP) • PDC Henry and Geri Epstein (YP) • DC Joseph Kraut (YP) • Diana Mendelowitz (YP) • PDC Jack and Lena Ostrofsky (YP) • Hyman I. Kessler Post 248 (YP) • Saul Rosenberg (YP) • PDC Bernhard and Ruth Storch • Lt. Walter Lipman M/Sgt Max Erlanger Post 756 (YP) • Goldie Bernstein (YP) • Adele Furman (YP) • Shelly Hornberg (YP) • William Kretchman Auxiliary 730 (YPJWVA) • PNP Sarah and John Nemon (TJWVA) www.jwv.org November 2007 29 hanu kah Holiday Holiday Gre CChanukah Greetings etings Cmdr. Allan Abramson & Wife Sheila Happy Days and Good Health Dr. Edward & Renee Penzer To All the Very Best Wishes PNC Lou & DP Gloria Abramson Best Wishes to All Dr. Robert & Mrs. Susan Pickard Queens County Council Queens, New York Jerry & Sara Alperstein Robert Baker • Best Wishes Harry & Carmen Reder Best Wishes to All Howard M. Barmad - Post 76, NJ Chag Sameach PDC/NEC Murray Runin PDC Norman & Harriet Schnitzer Howard A. & Dorothy G. Berger Naples, FL/Denver, CO Sid & Flo Simon, Post 117 MD Happy Holidays to Everyone Natl. Adj. Izzy & PDP Harriet Brosbe SR V/C Post 697, PA Stan + Adele Bilker Central District Council, PA. PNC Jerome D. Cohen Stuyvesant - Cooper Post 235, NY Harold & Harriet Fisher PNC Robert & Jeri Zweiman To Life Fegelson Young Feinberg Post 697 Levittown, PA Nat. Inspector Sidney & Fay Goldman PNC Sam & PNP Barb Greenberg Happy Holidays to All Arthur H. Greenwald, PCC • Post 69 Mildred Pirkowsky, PCP • Aux 3 Roland Greenwald•Holiday Greetings Susan Schneider Helsinger President, Dept. of New York, JWVA Larry D. Holman - Post 706, PA Best Wishes to All Beth Kane Wishes You Happy Holidays Enjoy Good Health • Enjoy your meals! The Perlman - Matlin Post 800 Best Wishes & Happy New Year Join your Comrades and send a holiday greeting to family and friends in the next issue of the Jewish Veteran! • F or only $30.00 per 1 line of names, or $50.00 for 2 lines, you can purchase a one year subscribtion which includes greetings for 5 holidays. Rosh Hashanah • Yom Kippur • Chanukah • Purim • Passover Names and greetings can be submitted anytime. Please fill out the form and send it along with your payment to : Jewish War Veterans 1811 R Street, NW Washington, DC 20009 Name Address Amount of payment Check Visa Card # 1st line 2nd line (no more than 30 characters per line) MC Credit Card Amex exp Taps Department At Large Herbert C. Haber-100 Department of California Ralph L. Leventhal-603, Irving Gross-760, Allen H. Mozer-760 Department of Connecticut Marvin Kosofsky-92, Norman D. Fagin-204 Department of Delaware Abraham Hoffman-767 Department of Florida Bernard Weinstein-202, Samuel Plonsky-440, Charles Kellman-475, Melvin Kaner-519, Lewis H. Cohen-613, Irving Borim-730, Max Cohen-730 Department of New Jersey Aaron Kaplan-18, Richard W. Scopp-63, Seymour Goldberg-78, Mathew Lapin-156, Bernard Rickman-359 Department of New York Saul Halpern-2, Leonard Sheidlover-50, Harry R. Karp-105, Shepard Gottlieb-425, William Klein425, Gerry Meister-425, William Quinn-425, Harry E. Reiss-425, Cantor Jacob Rosenbaum425, Neal Rosenberg-500, Charles Kupferman-709 Department of Ohio Jack Glaser-44, Stanley J. Narosny-44, Norman Art-73 Department of Maryland Sol Cooper-380 Department of Pennsylvania Calvin S. Mittelman-165, Isadore Joshowitz181, Gerald Roth-181, Abram Simon-212, Meyer Wingrod-305, Martin Wenitsky-310, Allan Brom499, Henry Ginsburg-499, Arnold Lipsitz-499, Harris G. Slotnick-575, Louis Glick-697, Jacob M. Schwartzberg-697 Department of Massachusetts David Porter-32 Department of Southwest (AZ-NM) Myron Cohn-210, Abby Rose-375 Department of Minnesota Leland Gottstein-331, Ernest Fink-354 Department of Wisconsin Abraham Ugent-487, Kenneth A. Stein-701 People and Places years of service to area veterans who are hospitalized or in homes such as the Delaware Valley Veterans’ Home. Department of Illinois Jack Dwortz-282, Fred Levin-328, Marvin B. Smason-407 Continued from page 25 presented a check for $1,000 to Army CPT David Sellen, also a Post 65 member and Cubmaster of Pack 713. Post 65 also provides pastries and coffee for VA clinic veterans and supports the Community Based Outreach Clinic for the rehabilitation of homeless veterans. • Members of Lance Corporal Joel Bernstein Post 791 run a monthly bingo game at the Delaware Valley Veterans’ Home in Northeast Philadelphia. Post Commander William Wortman assembles the group, and he is joined by Howard Fishbein, the Post’s founder and first Commander in 1967. Post 791 is celebrating 40 www.jwv.org Reunions Combat veterans of Iwo Jima will hold their annual Reunion and Historical Seminar in Washington, DC on Feb. 15-17, 2008. For information contact Combat Veterans of Iwo Jima, 4600 Duke Street, Suite 416, Alexandria, VA 22304, 703-212-0695 or 1-800-722-9501, or combatvetiwo@miltours.com. JWV and NMAJMH Officers List Additions and changes have been made to the JWV and NMAJMH Officers Lists since their initial publication in the September issue of The Jewish Veteran. Please go to the JWV web site, www.jwv.org, for the most up-to-date information. November 2007 31 Join the Jewish War Veterans of the USA Name: _____________________________________________________________________________________ Address: ____________________________________________________________________________________ City: ________________________________________________ State : ____________ Zip _______________ Phone ____________________________________ Cell ______________________________________ Email: ________________________________________ Fax: ______________________________________ I hereby apply for membership in the Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America. I certify that I am a citizen of the United States and of Jewish faith, that my service in the Armed Forces was honorable, that I have never been discharged from military service under dishonorable conditions, and that I am not a member of any organization that believes in or advocates bigotry. Signature ____________________________________________________ Date: _______________________ Post Name___________________________________________________ Post # ______________ Date of Birth Place of Birth ___________________ SS# (optional) ___________________________ Occupation ______________________________________ Marital Status _____________ Blood Type _______ Name of Nearest Relative ________________________________________ Relationship ___________________ Address: ____________________________________________________________________________________ City: ________________________________________________ State : ____________ Zip ________________ Enlistment Date: ______________ Discharge Date:_________________ Allied Nation Military _____________ Service Branch: Army Navy Rank ______________________ Marines Air Force Coast Guard Merchant Marines Serial # ___________________________ VA Claim #___________________ Unit Designation (co, regiment, division, ship, station, etc.) ____________________________________________ Reserve or National Guard status ________________________________________________________________ Decorations or Medals ________________________________________________________________________ Were you ever a member of JWV? _________ Post Name and # ______________________________________ Sponsor if any _______________________________________________________________________________ Life Membership $200 I am paying by Check Signature: Please send your application along with payment to: Jewish War Veterans of the U.S.A. 1811 R Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20009 Patron $45 Credit Card American Express Card No. Membership-at-large $45 Visa Mastercard Exp. Date Discover