26 | DECEMBER 16 • 2021 

OUR COMMUNITY

M

ichigan Jewish War 
Veterans (JWV) 
were once again well 
represented at Veterans Day 
events this year, both as par-
ticipants and as honorees.
Congregation Shaarey 
Zedek held its annual Veterans 
Shabbat on Saturday, Nov. 
6. The program featured the 
Southfield Police Department 
Color Guard, which led a large 
processional of veterans down 
the center aisle of the sanctu-
ary, with proud family mem-
bers by their sides. 
Rabbi Aaron Starr offered 
heartfelt remarks of thanks 
to our veterans, and Hazzan 
David Propis regaled the con-
gregation with stirring rendi-
tions of the official songs of 
each branch of our military.
JWV members of Shaarey 
Zedek help lead the special 
program, which includ-
ed remarks from Dept. of 
Michigan Sr. Vice Commander 
Bill Glogower and Don 

Wagner, Michigan JWV Judge 
Advocate and chairman of 
the Shaarey Zedek Veterans 
Shabbat Committee. Veterans 
from different eras also were 
given aliyot throughout the 
service. 
JWV-Michigan Chief of 
Staff Brig. Gen. Don Schenk 
stepped in to share remarks 
from Congresswoman Elissa 
Slotkin (D-8th District). 
Slotkin, who serves as a mem-
ber of the U.S. House com-
mittees on Armed Services, 
Homeland Security and 
Veterans Affairs, was sched-
uled to appear but official 
business ended up requiring 
her to travel to Albania to 
meet with Afghan refugees.
“Our veterans — you all 
here today and your brothers 
and sisters across the coun-
try — have given us freedom, 
security and the greatest 
nation on Earth,” Slotkin said 
from her prepared remarks 
read by Schenk. “It is impos-

sible to put a price on that. 
Thank you for your service 
to our country. Thank you 
for your service to our faith. 
Thank you for your service to 
our community. And thank 
you for the example you have 
set for our kids and grand-
kids.”
The Veterans Shabbat 
also introduced the winner 
of Shaarey Zedek’s inaugu-
ral Veterans Shabbat Essay 
Contest, open to teen con-
gregants. Hugh Aaron, an 
eighth-grader at Detroit 
Country Day School, was this 
year’s winner.
“Throughout history, Jews 
have been fierce warriors, 
from the Maccabeans to the 
modern IDF,” Aaron said. 
“Jewish American veterans are 
no exception,” he added, citing 
that an estimated 4,000 Jewish 
Americans currently serve in 
our armed forces.
Under sun-drenched skies 
on Sunday, Nov. 7, local 

JWV and Women’s Auxiliary 
members turned out in force 
and were among the caravan 
of cars and banner-carrying 
marchers to participate in 
Detroit’s 16th annual Veterans 
Day Parade. 
The festivities included 
the simultaneous running 
of the charity “4 Star 4 
Mile Race” that followed 
the same route, winding its 
way through Corktown on 
Michigan Avenue and Vernor 
Highway. Proceeds benefited 
the parade’s sponsor — the 
Metropolitan Detroit Veterans 
Coalition. 
On Veterans Day, Nov. 
11, the JWV was officially 
recognized during the 17th 
annual Veterans Day cer-
emony at the Great Lakes 
National Cemetery in Holly. 
Sr. Vice Commander Emeritus 
Arthur Fishman represented 
the JWV Dept. of Michigan 
and U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, 
back from her trip to Albania, 

Local Jewish War Veterans participate 
in several events to mark the day.

Veterans Day 
Activities

ALAN MUSKOVITZ CONTRIBUTING WRITER

LEFT: Michigan Jewish War 
Veterans and Women’s Auxiliary 
members march through 
Corktown during Detroit’s Nov. 
6 Veterans Day Parade. BELOW: 
Michigan Jewish War Veterans 
Steve Feldman, Art Fishman, 
Mark Weiss, Bill Glogower, Donald 
Davis and Dr. George Blum were 
honorary guests at the Holocaust 
Memorial Center’s 37th Annual 
Anniversary Benefit on Nov. 
14 at the Suburban Collection 
Showplace in Novi.

BRETT MOUNTAIN

ART FISHMAN

