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

