Volume 73 • Number 1 • 2019 The Jewish Veteran A Jewish Voice for Veterans and a Veteran’s Voice for Jews THE JWV AND THE RIGHT TO SERVE JWV’s 125th By Harvey Weiner, Anniversary JWV National Judge Advocate Coming in 2021 Jews, as a community, have always Page 3 been willing to fight for this country, even prior to its official beginning. The Private Over 360 years ago, when those first Care Push 23 Jews came in 1654 from Recife, Brazil, to settle in New Amsterdam, Page 5 now known as New York City, they were not welcomed by Governor Peter How to Recruit Stuyvesant, he of the well-known peg on Base leg. Nevertheless, they were allowed Page 6 to stay and some months later, Asser Levy, one of the initial 23 Jewish im- migrants, protested to Stuyvesant that The New JWV Jews were not allowed to stand guard. A protest held July 26, 2017 in Times Square outside the U.S. Army Recruiting Center Stamp Program According to Stuyvesant, the reason in response to President Trump tweeting that transgender people would no longer be allowed to serve in the U.S. military. Photo by Jere Keys, New York City, USA. Page 11 why he did not want a Jew to stand guard was because of the discrimina- On July 26, 2017, President Trump Trump Memorandum and its subse- Fall River Cemetery tion and unwillingness of local resi- announced in a series of tweets that quent progeny from being implement- Vigil dents to serve as fellow soldiers with transgender troops would no longer ed. Doe v. Trump, CA No. 17-1597 be allowed to serve in the military, re- (CKK). A preliminary injunction was Page 12 the Jewish nation and to be on guard with them in the same guard house. versing the policy of the Department issued preventing this discriminatory Levy insisted however, that, as a man- of Defense. A formal Presidential policy from going into effect. This JWV National ual laborer, he should be able to stand Memorandum followed on August 25, injunction was overturned by the U.S. Achievement guard like everyone else. Levy ap- 2017. JWV National Commander Carl Supreme Court in January. Awards for pealed to some of the Jewish sharehold- A. Singer issued a statement on behalf The Trump administration has Student ers of the Dutch East India Company, of the JWV opposing this new dis- appealed to the United States Court of which owned New Amsterdam and, criminatory policy. Suit was brought Appeals for the District of Columbia and within two years, Levy had succeeded by the transgender community in the Circuit on the merits. The JWV Veterans in standing watch and ward, like the United States District Court for the was asked by Mary Bonauto, the Page 13 others. District of Columbia to prevent the Continued on page 15 Sar-El (Volunteers Jewish War Veterans and AIPAC for Israel) COL Nelson L Mellitz, USAF, Ret. with breakout sessions, special ses- Page 14 The American Israel Public sions, and receptions directed to and Affairs Committee (AIPAC) Policy for U.S. military veterans. Sessions in- Conference 2019 took place March cluded: Veterans in Politics, Veterans 24-26, 2019 in Washington, D.C. The Outreach Welcome Reception, On JWVA’s AIPAC Conference is the largest gath- the Front Lines: Veterans Fighting ering of American’s pro-Israel com- for a Strong U.S.-Israel Relationship; 91st Annual munity. Through keynote speeches by Veteran Freshman: From One Front National American and Israeli leaders and ed- Line to Another, etc. There were over Convention ucational sessions, Policy Conference 18,000 participants at AIPAC and at Page 19 delegates participate in the full scale of each one of these veterans’ related ses- pro-Israel activism (reference AIPAC sions the room was full to overflowing Dashboard: March 28, 2019). there, as AIPAC implemented a U.S. with 100 plus veterans in attendance. The Jewish War Veterans was military veteran’s outreach component Continued on page 17 CONTENTS D’vrei HaShomrim ...................2 JWV Convention Message From the Registration ............................10 Commander ..............................3 Reviews .....................................17 On The Hill .................................4 National Ladies Auxiliary ....18 Membership Corner ...............6 Museum News ................ .......20 JWV in the Community .......10 Taps ............................................ 22 D'vrei HaShomrim THE JEWISH “Wow, you’re in the Army? I didn’t know that Jews serve in the military.” By Chaplain (COL) Larry Bazer VETERAN After almost 30 years in the military, I’m still The Jewish Veteran is the Official Publication of the amazed with the surprise of people learning that I’m Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America actually a soldier or more specifically—National National Commander Dr. Barry J. Schneider Guardsman, and a rabbi! I even get, “You mean the National Editor Lance Wang Israeli Army, right?” “No, I’m in the US Military. I’m Managing Editor Jennifer Brande a United States Army officer and Jewish Chaplain.” Graphics/Production Editor Christy Turner Jewish have served in the American armed EDITORIAL OFFICE forces since the Revolutionary War. During war 1811 R Street, NW • Washington, D.C. 20009 Telephone (202) 265-6280 x504 and peace time, rabbis have marched, sailed, or Fax (202) 234-5662 flown along with our brave American troops, car- E-mail [email protected] ing for both Jews and Gentiles. There are Jewish Web Site www.jwv.org chaplains on full-time active duty and others The Jewish Veteran is published 4 times a year: with both Reserve components, either Reserve or Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall, by the National Guard. Only the Army and Air Force Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America have both Reserve and National Guard, Navy and 1811 R Street, NW Marines only have the Reserve. Washington, DC 20009 What do Jewish chaplains do? Pretty much Periodical postage paid at Washington, DC, and at the same as any chaplain, regardless of religious additional mailing offices. denomination. We all care for the living, we also Postmaster: Send form 3579 to Jewish War Veterans, 1811 R Street, NW, Washington, DC 20009. counsel, visit, or tend to those in need, or the most Chaplain (COL) Larry Bazer is the Deputy Director sacred work, honor the dead. We do both staff of- of the National Guard Bureau-Office of the Joint Subscription price in the United States is $5.00 per year, included in membership. Nonmember subscriptions: ficer and clergy work. When I was deployed to Chaplain. Prior to serving on active duty, he was the $10.00. Single copies: $2.50. Joint Forces State Chaplain for the Massachusetts Afghanistan the second half of 2011, I was on my Photos and articles submitted to The Jewish Veteran commanding general’s special staff, and I was the National Guard and the Rabbi of Temple Beth Sholom shall be used at the discretion of the organization. The only Jewish chaplain in the entire operational the- in Framingham, MA. He is still a proud member of opinions expressed in signed articles and letters in this magazine are not necessarily those of JWV. ater. One of the most memorable experiences I had Framingham/Natick JWV Chapter and MA Jewish War Veterans. Advertising information and rates available from the was leading a Hanukkah Menorah lighting on my Editorial Office. JWV assumes no responsibility for base, Camp Phoenix in Kabul. On a cold, wintery response or its State Partnership program with oth- products and services advertised in this publication. night, twenty-five people gathered around a five er nations’ armed forces. Luckily, I still get to teach © 2018 by the Jewish War Veterans of the USA. foot Hanukkiyah I had specially built. We were some Jewish text or lead Hanukkah celebrations at NPA#112285 • ISSN 047-2019. from all branches of service as well as government the Guard Bureau or even at the Pentagon. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. contractors. Not everyone who attended was even This coming April will be 30 years since I Jewish. I was proud to lead them in the blessings raised my right hand in the Jerusalem Consulate and songs. We finished up by feasting on latkes and of the United States Embassy and took an oath to sufganiyot (jelly donuts). This scene was replicat- support and defend the Constitution of the United Display your ed all over the world on military bases or ships by States as an army officer. Ever since that sacred JWV Membership Jewish chaplains or lay leaders. All were serving moment, I’m proud to wear the uniform of an US our nation as Jewish military personnel. Army officer. I’m proud to wear the Jewish chap- Proudly! Presently, I’m serving on active duty at the lain’s tablets on my uniform. I’m proud to be mili- The JWV supply store isn't just National Guard Bureau in Arlington, VA, after tary combat veteran, and I’m proud to stand shoul- for pins and poppies! You can being a full-time pulpit rabbi for 25 years. For der to shoulder with my fellow Jewish War Vets, most of my military career I was part-time in all of us, members at one time, of our United States also purchase JWV branded both the Massachusetts and New York Army military! For God and Country! badges, caps and jackets! National Guard. I was a “weekend warrior…minus Chaplain (COL) Larry Bazer is the Deputy Shabbat.” I, like many Reserve Component rab- Director of the National Guard Bureau-Office bis, held other positions like pulpit, education, or of the Joint Chaplain. Prior to serving on active Shirts, caps, hospital chaplaincy.