14 July 4 • 2019
jn

T

he Civil War, World War I, 
World War II, Korea, Vietnam, 
the frontlines on the War on 
Terror. No matter the era or theater 
of war, Jews in our armed forces have 
faced being in harm’
s 
way throughout 
our nation’
s history, 
playing a pivotal role 
in defending our 
freedoms despite 
the erroneously held 
belief after the Civil 
War that Jews did 
not participate in the 
defense of our country. 
To right that wrong, the Hebrew 
Union Veterans Organization, the 
forerunner of today’
s Jewish War 
Veterans (JWV) of the U.S.A., was 
founded in 1896 to dispute that mis-
truth and set the record straight. 
The JWV remains our nation’
s 
oldest veterans service organization 
(VSO) that for 123 years has been 
dedicated to the well-being of all 
veterans. But like all current VSOs, 
the JWV is working to stem the tide 
of shrinking memberships. There’
s 
more on the line than meets the eye.
The subject of the JWV’
s future 
was front and center the weekend 
of June 1-2 when the Jewish War 
Veterans Department of Michigan 
hosted Dr. Barry J. Schneider, 74, 
Maj., USAF (Ret), JWV national 
commander. Schneider, who resides 
in Fort Worth, Texas, came to Detroit 
to discuss the state of the JWV and 
meet with members at Temple Shir 

Shalom in West Bloomfield. 
The visit, one of several on his 
cross-country tour, earned praise 
from Schneider who told JWV post 
members: “This has been absolutely 
without question the best department 
visit I have been on. You’
re doing a 
stellar job, a great job for the JWV 
in the community and I expect great 
things out of you in the future.” 
But with most members comprised 
of WWII veterans, the JWV is facing 
a future challenged by an urgent need 
to replenish and rejuvenate its ranks. 
The Ladies Auxiliary of the Jewish 
War Veterans faces a similar fate.

THE WORK OF THE JWV
To the uninformed, the JWV might be 
mischaracterized as an organization 
where aging vets convene to share war 
stories. That couldn’
t be further from 
the truth. What’
s at stake is more than 
the loss of its rank and file. The JWV’
s 
absence would create a void not only 
in the Jewish community, but also in 
communities throughout the country.
Nationally, the JWV is actively 
involved in key legislative priorities. 
“We fight for the rights of Jews every-
where, but we take care of all veter-
ans no matter their denomination,” 
Schneider says.
JWV is at the forefront on the dis-
cussion of veteran suicide prevention, 
homelessness, GI Bill accountability 
and POW/MIA initiatives. And not to 
be overlooked is the JWV’
s commit-
ment to the well-being of Israel.
In Detroit, the JWV makes its 

own impact. Every Christmas Day 
for the last 60-plus years, the JWV 
Department of Michigan travels by 
charter bus for a one-day trip to the 
Battle Creek VA Medical Center, pro-
viding gifts and companionship for 
patients who are often alone on the 
holiday. 
The combined posts of Michigan’
s 
JWV have also contributed to the 
ongoing development of Fisher House 
Detroit, a facility planned to be with-
in walking distance of the John D. 
Dingell VA Medical Center, which will 
provide, at no charge, a comfortable 
and secure “home away from home” 
for family members of loved ones 
being treated.
According to JWV Department of 
Michigan Commander Dr. Ed Hirsch: 
“We will implement numerous other 
community-related projects including 
working with the National Council of 
Jewish Women and assuming an even 
closer relationship with the Holocaust 
Memorial Center and its efforts to 
create programming aimed at school-
age children.”

EYE TO THE FUTURE
But who will carry the mantle for aging 
JWV members when they are no lon-
ger able to contribute? The JWV needs 
younger reinforcements. 
“We are doing things to try and 
engage younger members,
” Schneider 
says. “Our JWV Iraq/Afghanistan 
committee is growing and becoming 
more active.
” He estimates that 50,000 
Jews have served since 9-11, with 

Alan Muskovitz
Contributing Writer

jews d
in 
the

Ensuring a 
Lasting Legacy

National commander of Jewish War Veterans 
comes to Detroit to talk about the future.

Dr. Barry J. Schneider, national 

commander of the Jewish War 

Veterans U.S.A., and Dr. Ed 

Hirsch, commander JWV Dept. 

of Michigan, at the Machpelah 

gravesite of Medal of Honor 

recipient Raymond Zussman

Bloomfield Hills
Lovely 3-bedroom, 2-bath ranch 
condominium in the heart of 
2-car garage.

Reduced to $199,900

JUST LISTED 
West Bloomfield


Only $234,900

Ask for

Ronald J. Miller
Associate Broker

Signature Sotheby’s
International Realty 
248-420-9616

COURTESY OF THE JEWISH WAR VETERANS