NOVEMBER 30 • 2023 | 31
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desire to serve her own country.
“In 2014, I experienced one of the most pivotal
moments of my life,” Rachel said in her Shabbat
remarks. “My family and I were enjoying a fam-
ily vacation in Israel on the eve of Operation
Protective Edge. Two rockets were launched
from the Gaza Strip, both successfully intercept-
ed by the U.S.-funded Iron Dome.
“A year after the attack, I developed a deep
desire to go and protect what I valued the most
— life and liberty. At 12 years old, I realized I
was willing to die fighting the people who violat-
ed that principle.”
Rachel wove Talmudic teachings into her
remarks, including references to the destruction
of the Temple and historical lessons from par-
shat that offered stern reminders that we as Jews
must remain forever vigilant in our efforts to
defeat those who seek to destroy us.
“We must preemptively protect ourselves …
We must actively protect ourselves,” said Rachel
of the lessons she learned from her Jewish stud-
ies. “This is a principle that I have embraced and
one of the numerous reasons I have a deep and
enduring desire to serve.” That desire culminated
in her enlisting in the U.S. Army at just 17 years
of age, the minimum age requirement that is
only considered with parental consent.
ON GUARD IN SYRIA
Just a teenager upon arriving to her original first
base in Syria, Rachel told the congregation that
she immediately had her feet held to the fire.
“I worked 12-16 hours a day, seven days a
week with no days off providing intelligence
assessments and threat analysis. I had pressure
JWV Activities
It has been an extremely busy
past two months for the Jewish
War Veterans Department of
Michigan (JWV-MI). Post mem-
bers have been out in full force
participating in and sponsoring
numerous community programs.
In October, the JWV attended
and were among the spon-
sors for ADL Michigan’s “Walk
Against Hate” in Southfield, the
FIDF Michigan Annual Dinner at
Shaarey Zedek and the Fisher
House Michigan Gala in Detroit.
The Fisher House provides
temporary accommodations
for the families and caregivers
of veterans and active military
receiving care at VA medical
centers. The VA Fisher House
in Ann Arbor opened in June of
2020 and to date has provid-
ed 7,600 military and veterans
caregivers with free lodging.
Construction is now
commencing on the Fisher
House Detroit location at 7618
Woodward Ave. It’s located
on the former site of the Lelli’s
Steakhouse near the Detroit
VA. Fisher House Detroit is
expected to open by the end of
2024.
In November, the JWV were
also participants and helped
sponsor the Annual Detroit
Veterans Day Parade, the 39th
Annual Anniversary Benefit for
the Zekelman Holocaust Center
and the Veterans Shabbat
at Shaarey Zedek. The JWV
were also well represented at
Veterans Day Shabbat services
held at Temple Israel, Adat
Shalom, and a combined service
by Temple Kol Ami and B’nai
Israel.
Other events in and around
Veterans Day included the
JWV being honored to be
among the guests at the annual
Heroes Appreciation Breakfast
on Nov. 7 in West Bloomfield.
The event is a partnership
between the West Bloomfield
Township, School District, Parks
Department and Library.
The Hechtman Apartments
hosted the JWV at a Veterans
Day program on Nov. 10.
JWV Dept. of Michigan
Commander Mark Weiss and
Chaplain Arnold Gartner were
guest speakers who shared
their experiences from the
military service.
JWV Bill Glogower and Art Fishman
with Fisher House Michigan Executive
Director Kate Melcher at the site of the
future site of Fisher House Detroit.
JWV Department of Michigan marches in the
Annual Detroit Veterans Day Parade.
continued on page 32
The base’s resident dog, “Rip It,” always provided Rachel
with a much-needed hug during her deployment in Syria.