Jews in the D
16 | NOVEMBER 7 • 2019
H
ow many generations think of
Memorial Day as the first day of
summer and Veterans Day as a
theme for a sale? Veterans know better.
Did you know Jewish War Veterans
(JWV) is America’
s oldest veteran service
organization? Chartered in 1896, Jewish
War Veterans of the USA specifically was
organized to dispel the belief that Jews did
not serve in the military to protect our
nation.
Fact: Jews have fought among the ranks
of the military since the American War of
Independence and they continue to serve
around the world.
Fact: Today, there are an estimated
8,000 to 10,000 known Jewish servicemen
and servicewomen in active duty out of
approximately 1.3 million (just under 1
percent) in the U.S. Armed Forces. That
number has remained stable and close to
the percentage of Jews in the general U.S.
population — about 2 percent.
“Our continuity in the military is our
version of l’
dor v’
dor, from one generation
to the next,
” says Dr. Edward H. Hirsch,
col. U.S. Army Special Forces (Retired) and
commander, JWV of the USA, Department
of Michigan. “For that long history of
service, regardless of when, where or for
whatever length of time, we have our
veterans to thank.
”
A JEWISH VOICE FOR VETERANS,
A VETERAN’
S VOICE FOR JEWS
In Michigan, JWV maintains a small, but
steadfast membership — approximately
150 veterans strong, concentrated in
Oakland County and currently split into
three Posts — 135 (2d LT Raymond
Zussman), 474 (PFC Joseph L. Bale) and
510 (Charles Shapiro-MG Maurice Rose).
“Our goal is to let people know we’
re
still an active service organization and
here for good,” says Donald Schenk,
Brig. Gen. U.S. Army (retired) and JWV
Michigan chief of staff (the department’
s
chief operating officer).
“We may be most visible in Veterans
Day and Memorial Day ceremonies and
parades, but what we really want the
community to know is that we’
re here
to serve in many capacities. JWV exists
to advocate for the needs of veterans,
to strengthen the ties that connect
Jewish veterans to the community, and
to continue our service and good work
through educational and volunteer
activities in the greater Detroit area,
throughout the state of Michigan and
nationally.”
JWV of Michigan is actively recruiting
members. With membership of JWV
of Michigan mostly comprised of
WWII, Korean War and Vietnam War
era veterans, a primary aim of the
organization is to identify and reach out to
the broader community of veterans who
can benefit from its resources.
“We have a core group of 50 we see for
programs on a monthly basis,” Schenk
says. “Typically, veterans don’
t come to
us until the end of their life. But now
we’
re looking for those veterans who have
honorably served, sitting in the back of the
synagogue, so to speak, to come forward
to take advantage of JWV membership
and the veteran and military benefits that
are their due. Our aim is also to support
family members of veterans whose loved
ones may have passed on.”
Though much of the work entails
helping veterans and their families
negotiate the labyrinth of the Department
of Veteran Affairs to help ensure that
their records are in order for end-of- life
benefits, JWV of Michigan also is involved
in advocacy for better clinics, hospitals,
veterans homes and Michigan veteran-
friendly legislation. Volunteers, including
the Women’
s Auxiliary, also support
veterans’
facilities and local veteran
activities, and maintain veteran plots in
local Jewish cemeteries.
Our thanks to Jewish War
Veterans of Michigan
for their service beyond
measure.
VIVIAN HENOCH
SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
JWV Michigan Chief of Staff Donald Schenk and Dr. Edward Hirsch, commander, JWV of the USA, Dept. of
Michigan
JOHN HARDWICK
r
JWV Michigan Chief of Staff Donald Schenk and Dr. Edward Hirsch, commander, JWV of the USA, Dept. of
Michigan
JOHN HARDWICK
Here
Serve
to
continued on page 18