DECEMBER 16 • 2021 | 27

ART FISHMAN

was among the dignitaries in
attendance.

HONORED AT HMC
A busy month for the JWV
also included several post
members being honored
guests at the Holocaust
Memorial Center’s (HMC)
37th annual anniversa-
ry benefit held Nov. 14 at
the Suburban Collection
Showplace in Novi. The JWV
were given a warm round of
applause after being asked to
stand and be recognized.
The event marked the
return of the annual in-person
dinner after last year’s pro-
gram was limited to a virtual
presentation. The size of the
venue allowed social distanc-
ing protocols to be imple-
mented for the nearly 800 in

attendance.
Nancy Grosfeld was hon-
ored for her philanthropy and
community activism and sup-
port of the HMC. Renowned
singer, songwriter, and pianist
Michael Feinstein was the eve-
ning’s entertainment.
The JWV are bound by
their motto of being “a Jewish
voice for veterans, a veteran’s
voice for Jews.” That commit-
ment also includes charitable
giving. Recent recipients of
JWV donations included
Koshertroops.com, which
sends kosher food and holiday
gift baskets to soldiers and
service members around the
globe.
Operation Benjamin (OB)
will also be on the receiving
end of a donation from the
JWV. The mission of the

Chestnut Ridge, New York-
based organization is “to
identify Jewish soldiers at
American military cemeteries
all over the world who were
mistakenly buried under Latin
crosses and replace headstones
with a Star of David.” Shalom
Lamm, CEO of Operation
Benjamin, addressed the local
JWV during a Zoom meeting
on Nov. 21 in which he gave
an overview on OB and their
latest success stories.
The JWV’s support of all
men and women who have
served our nation proudly
extends beyond the Jewish
community. A donation by
the JWV is being made to the
Michigan Veterans Homes,
a branch of the Michigan
Department of Military and
Veterans Affairs. The con-

tribution will support the
organization’s newest facility
in Chesterfield Township that
“provides long-term skilled
nursing care and services that
enhances the well-being of
veterans in the place they call
home.”
Finally, COVID-19 restric-
tions will unfortunately pre-
vent the JWV and Women’s
Auxiliary from embarking on
their annual Dec. 25 Mitzvah
Day bus trip to bring holi-
day greetings and gifts to the
patients at the Battle Creek
VA Medical Center. In lieu of
an in-person visit, a donation
will instead be made to help
continue the JWV’s tradition
of offering support for their
fellow comrades that they so
richly deserve, especially at
this time of year.

ABOVE: Art Fishman, center, Michigan Jewish War Veteran Sr. Vice
Commander Emeritus, joins Great Lakes National Cemetery (GLNC)
president Garth Wootten and Brig. Gen. Doug Slocum, U.S. Air Force
(Ret) at GLNC Veterans Day Ceremony in Holly, Michigan, on Veterans
Day, Nov. 11. RIGHT: Michigan Jewish War Veteran Nick Israel and girl-
friend Jaime Bartholomai march during Detroit’s Veterans Day Parade.

ART FISHMAN