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

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