OUR COMMUNITY

22 | JULY 15 • 2021 

old WWII veteran Jerry Manchel of 
West Bloomfield, whose third-grade 
grandchild Lucy attends the school. 
I spoke with Manchel prior to his 
Zoom session. He confessed to being 
nervous about making a presentation 
in front of so many people. Nervous, 
I thought? This from a man who flew 
43 missions over the Pacific as a radio/
gunner on a B-24 bomber?
After the fact, it would take some 
time to convince him, but Jerry 
Manchel represented beautifully. He 
proudly spoke of his service and the 
unique perspective he had as a witness 
to the history of WWII.
Among those indelible memories, 
Manchel described flying over Nagasaki, 
Japan, four days after the dropping 
of the atomic bomb and later seeing 
firsthand Japanese leaders landing at the 
Ie Shima, Japan, airfield on their way to 
officially surrendering. 
Manchel also fondly recalled receiving 
a message from President Harry 
Truman through his military aide, 
thanking him for sending a photograph 
of the plane Manchel flew bearing the 
commander-in-chief’s name. The photo 
was returned autographed along with 
words of gratitude from the president.
The positive impression Israel and 
Manchel made on the students was 
evidenced by the depth of thoughtful 

inquiries the students made during Q 
& A sessions. The issue of antisemitism 
while serving in the military was 
raised. Manchel said fortunately he 
was never on the receiving end of such 
discrimination. Israel described the 
military as a “great environment for 
our Jewish service members, with many 
allies against any hint of Jewish hatred.” 
A collective heartfelt “thank you for 
your service” was shared by the students 
at the end of each program. 

JWV REMEMBERS
On Sunday, May 30, members of our 
Detroit area JWV posts gathered at 
the Veterans Section at Machpelah 
Cemetery in Ferndale for their annual 
Memorial Day weekend tribute to their 
comrades of blessed memory. The 

Women’s Auxiliary and family members 
of the veterans were well represented.
As he has done for the last several 
years, Rabbi Michael Moskowitz led a 
brief dedication ceremony. He reflected 
on the year that had passed: “Since the 
last time we gathered for Memorial Day 
prayers, 20 American individuals have 
lost their lives. On one level we think 
it’s a small number. And compared to 
years past, it has decreased. We give 
thanks to that reality. But it’s still 20 
families that have lost a loved one, 
20 friends that have buried a loved 
one. The impact of one life, we all 
understand what that means.” 
Compounding that loss over the 
many years of conflicts our nation has 
endured, Rabbi Moskowitz gave thanks 
to all who have laid their lives on the 
line, remembering each and every one 
as “the best of what this country has to 
offer.”
The service concluded with the 
playing of taps by Paul Roache, a 
volunteer with Bugles Across America.
Take pride in and support our JWV. 
They are the oldest active service 
organization in the United States. In 
doing so, you’re not only making a 
difference in the lives of our Jewish 
service men and women but you’re 
supporting, as declared in their mission 
statement, “to encourage the doctrine of 
universal liberty, equal rights, and full 
justice for all men and women.” 

continued from page 21

Jerry Manchel 
on Zoom

Nick Israel on 
Zoom

