Remember And Reflect

Will the 21st century be as bloody as the 20th?

DAVID SACHS
Staff Writer

T

he first Memorial Day of the new cen-
tury brought Detroit-area Jews together
to honor those who died staving off the
horrors of the past one.
The 20th century brought the advent of
"world war." The First World War was so violent .
it was thought to be the "War to End All Wars."
But one generation later, some 50 million people
were killed during World War H, including the
six million Jews that perished in the Holocaust.
The Cold War between the United States and the
Soviet Union, with drawn-out conflicts in Korea
and Vietnam, threatened to trigger a nuclear
Third World War at the touch of a button.
On May 28, about 200 people gathered on a
rainy Sunday morning in the Machpelah
Cemetery chapel to remember those who gave
their lives in battle. The Jewish War Veterans of
the United States of America, Department of
Michigan (JWV), sponsored this memorial ser-
vice and an additional one held at Hebrew
Memorial Park in Clinton Township.
Rabbi Herbert Yoskowitz of Adat Shalom
Synagogue, the Michigan JWV chaplain, spoke
at Machpelah. He told the audience, which
included many American, Canadian and Russian
veterans, that the sacrifices of the 20th century
must be remembered.
"Please continue these memorial services," he
said. "Please do not allow the past to go unre-
membered. Please do not allow the sacred mem-
ories of those who fell to go unmentioned.
Continue, because in the Jewish tradition the
word zacharti means "I remember."
"When we are able to remember the past, we
have an opportunity for a better future. When
we remember the sacrifices of others, we can
encourage our own."
Rabbi Yoskowitz recalled how the past century
was noted for the prevalence of the "winds of war."
He views the new century as a time for hope.
"You can look at the present as continuous
with the past," he said, "but you can also look at
the present as a new beginning.
"We would hope that in the future we can
honor an era of peace."
JWV Michigan State Commander Bob
Feldman of Southfield is hopeful that the new
century will be more peaceful than the last one.
"The Jewish War Veterans is in business to go
out of business," he said. "We honor our dead,
hoping that never again people will have to die
in a war." ❑

Clockwise from top left:

At the Hebrew Memorial Park services are, from
left, Helen Pliskow of Oak Park, Jerry Schlussel
of Oak Park, Sandy Feldman of Southfield
Rabbi Boruch Levin of Hebrew Memorial
Cha eh Milton Klein of Oak Park, Bob
Fe man of Southfield Shirley Schlussel of Oak
Park, Tom Tannis of Southfield Marvin Reich
of Southfield Sandy Pliskow of Oak Park
and Anna Bunin of Oak Park
Rabbi Herbert Yoskowitz, JWV Michigan
State Commander Bob Feldman and Chief of
Staff Milton Klein at the Machpelah service.

Honor guards from Russia, the US. and
Canada at Machpelah chapel are veterans
Jack Sigal of Southfield, Frank Blase of
Southfield and Izzy Sigal of Windsor.

Brothers Izzy and Frank Sigal of Windsor
are members of the Balfour Branch of the
Royal Canadian Legion.

6/2
2000

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