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Tour Of Duty

Jewish War Veterans had a very
busy Veterans Day this year.

Art Fishman, commander, JWV Post 510; Joe Goldring, vice commander, JWV, Department
of Michigan; Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence and Jack Bakalar of JWV Post 135.

ued with Jewish veterans participating in
a wreath-laying ceremony Nov. 10 at the
annual City of Southfield Veterans Day
Ceremony.
Veterans Day, Nov. 11, found the Jewish
veterans with a full slate of activities. They
attended a ceremony in Oak Park, where
Russian Jewish WWII veterans were recog-
nized among veterans being honored. The
JWV also traveled to Holly to play a role in
the services conducted at the Great Lakes
National Cemetery.
And our veterans participated in a very
emotional ceremony at Detroit’s Hardstein
Park, where the Revolution Flag Foundation
unveiled a restored memorial honoring PFC
Herman Hardstein. Hardstein was just 19
in 1944, when he gave his life in the line

of duty on a German battlefield. Shirlee
Marshall, representing the JWV Ladies
Auxiliary, helped place a JWV plaque onto
the newly refurbished memorial.
Veterans Shabbat at Congregation
Shaarey Zedek was held Nov. 12. The JWV
Color/Honor Guard, led by Gen. Donald
Schenk and Vice Commander Joe Goldring,
opened the service. All veterans were invit-
ed to the bimah for aliyahs, and WWII vet-
eran Bill Berman received a well-deserved
salute in honor of his 99th birthday.
Our community is so fortunate to have
a dedicated and esteemed population of
Jewish war veterans among us. It is incum-
bent upon us all to say thank you to our
service men and women, past and present
— on Veterans Day and every day.

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Photos by Asher Stein, Farber HDS high school senior

F

or our Metro Detroit Jewish War
Harbor. He recalls vividly his father telling
Veterans (JWV), the days
him on that fateful day: “You’re
leading up to and following
14 years old and don’t need to
Veterans Day were a tour of duty
worry about being inducted. This
of sorts, with vets participating
will be over before it affects you.”
in numerous observances to pay
But before it was over, Fishman
homage to their fellow comrades.
completed stints in the Army and
Temple Shir Shalom offered its
Navy. Dec. 7 will mark the 75th
annual Veterans Shabbat Service
anniversary of that “day that will
on Nov. 5, where WWII veteran Dr.
live in infamy.”
Guy Stern was honored with a spe- Alan
Shir Shalom Rabbi Michael
cial aliyah just days after learning
Moskowitz stressed the need “to
Muskovitz
he would be receiving the French
hear their stories and not only be
Legion of Honor, the highest deco-
inspired but also hold on to them
ration bestowed in France.
so that we can teach future generations to
Stern, director of the International
help solidify their legacy.”
Institute of the Righteous at the Holocaust
The annual Detroit Veterans Day Parade
Memorial Center, said, “I am overwhelmed. was especially meaningful this year. Out of
I accept the honor only for those who were
respect for Shabbat, organizers changed the
on the beaches of Normandy at the time my parade to Sunday, Nov. 6. The move result-
unit was there — many of whom deserve it ed in a bigger turnout by the JWV, who
far more than I do.”
were honored further by being positioned
At the service, Art Fishman spoke of
at the front of the parade.
his remembrances of the attack on Pearl
The weeklong event schedule contin-

Celebrating Veterans

Farber Hebrew Day Schools learns the
importance of Jewish participation.

Judy Greenwald | Contributing Writer

I

n commemoration of Veterans Day, Nov.
11, Marty Levine and Ted Gittleman, two
former servicemen and members of Metro
Detroit’s Jewish War Veterans (JWV), spoke to
Farber Hebrew Day School’s high school stu-
dents on the significance of Jewish participa-
tion in military service.
Both Levine of Oak Park and Gittleman of
Royal Oak served in the armed forces in the
late 1960s-early 1970s during the Vietnam War.
Gittleman was drafted into the Marines, and
Levine was an Army sergeant.
“As Jews, we’ve lived in many different lands,”
Levine said, “and have participated in and
contributed to these communities to become
respected members of those communities.

“Military service is one of the most impor-
tant contributions one can make to the nation
of which he or she is a citizen. My fellow JWV
members and I are very proud to have served
our country and its people.”
Students asked what Levine did during the
war and whether he experienced anti-Semitism
in the Army. He noted it was unfortunate that
he did encounter such negative treatment, but
he never hid his Jewishness.
“Tikkun olam perhaps best describes the
shared values of my Judaism and my military
service. I hope the young people I’ve had a
dialogue with today will take from it that com-
munity and commitment to national service
are very important parts of all our Judaism.”

Former Army Sgt. Marty Levine and high school principal Rabbi Noam Stein at the
Veterans Day event

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Above: Farber Hebrew Day School high school students listen to the Jewish war
veterans talk about their military service.

Bottom left: Ted Gittleman and Marty Levine

Bottom right: Marty Levine responds to a student’s question.

26 November 24 • 2016