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. 

