OPINION
JWV welcomes non-vets, non-Jews as members By Steve Markman You don’t have to be Jewish to join Jewish War Veterans. For that matter, you don’t have to be a veteran, either. JWV is America’s oldest veterans’ organization, and anyone can join as a patron donor. This type of membership is open to any supporter of the organization who upholds, reflects and pursues the values of JWV. Patrons are encouraged to participate in all activities with their local post and to support JWV programs. They have all the privileges of a regular member, except they are not eligible to hold elected JWV office or act as a delegate at JWV conventions. JWV is our country’s oldest continuously operating veterans’ organization, and currently has nearly 250 posts in the United States, and one in Israel. JWV was formed by Jewish veterans of the Civil War to counter claims that Jews did not serve when their country needed them and were being denied the benefits they’d earned. The truth is that Jews served and distinguished themselves during the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Civil War, and since have continued to serve in all branches of the service, during all of our wars and military actions, right up through today. While the discrimination of the post-Civil War era largely is gone, JWV has moved on to being a strong advocate for all veterans and others associated with our military, regardless of religion, race, or creed. At the national level, with its headquarters in Washington, D.C., JWV works with the Congress and federal agencies to promote veterans issues and to be a strong advocate for Israel. In addition, JWV offers a variety of youth scholarships, and supports Jewish military academy and ROTC cadets and Scouting. JWV also maintains the National Museum of American Jewish Military History in Washington, which displays and archives the stories and artifacts of Jewish military service. At the local level, the Dayton/Cincinnati Post 587 is commanded by Jeff Thau. Under his leadership, the post volunteers at the Dayton VA Medical Center, participates in naturalization ceremonies to welcome new citizens, places flags on the graves of Jewish veterans for Memorial Day, maintains liaison with Jewish military personnel at Wright-Patterson AFB, and assists Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops. The post conducts two brunch meetings each year, each with a speaker, and participates in the community Chanukah lunch with Hadassah, JFS Active Adults, and the JCC Yiddish Club. In Ohio, JWV also has posts in Cleveland, Sandusky/Lorain, Akron, Canton, and Columbus. Active duty Jewish military members are eligible for in-service membership. Annual membership is free while on active duty and for the first year out of the service. Your participation matters. Besides being part of an active post here in the Dayton area, the size of our national membership is important. When JWV advocates for veterans, numbers matter and often are as important as the significance of the issue. Your membership can help make JWV’s voice stronger as we continue to help all veterans across the country. Steve Markman is past commander of Jewish War Veterans Post 587 and current JWV commander for the state of Ohio. PAGE 10
Yatar Israel volunteers help combat terrorism them and that martyrdom gives greatness. By Goldye Kopmar The most lasting impression for me occurred at I have been to Israel many times, but I have never Kibbutz Nahal Oz, a five-minute drive from Sderot. It had my life changed in the way it was by the 10-day is only a half mile from the Gaza border, about three Zionist Of America Purim Mission to Israel. Our fields away. These are the fields under which Hamas is main goal was to bring the joy of Purim to the Magav, digging its tunnels to attack Israel. I could easily hear Israeli soldiers on the borders between Israel and Samaria (the West Bank). They serve in very tense places and see a truck moving on the Gaza Road as I stood at the wire fence separating the kibbutz from the fields. and aren’t allowed to leave their posts to go home for Who protects these brave kibbutz families? A group the holiday. We loaded our bulletproof bus with big plastic bags of commando-trained volunteers called Yatar Israel, a counterterror Mobile ATV unit, who patrol and act of shelach manot (all kinds of candy and goodies for Purim) and personal letters written by school children quickly to capture terrorists in areas where security vehicles cannot reach: narrow alleyways of the Old from Dayton’s Hillel Academy and Beth Abraham City of Jerusalem or rough dirt roads in the hills and Synagogue. I was so delighted and proud when Dr. Kathy Mecoli, principal of Hillel Academy, and Cantor fields. Many of them work their day jobs from 8 to 5, Andrea Raizen of Beth Abraham Synagogue Religious and then patrol and protect during the night — the School readily agreed to have their students write time when most of the terror activity occurs — until letters. the morning. Maybe these men and Our first stop was at Tzomet women get two hours of sleep. When Pituach in Samaria. Each day, Israeli we asked one of the commandos why soldiers face four to five incidents: he does it, he answered, “My wife and shootings, stabbings, and car ramchildren live here; of course, I am gomings. One soldier was stabbed four ing to be a Yatar volunteer to protect days before we arrived. They were so them. Why do we live here? Because thrilled to see us; even the commander this is our home and Israel needs us.” of the unit came over to talk with us. There is a misconception about the We sang with them, we danced with fence built to protect Israel citizens them. from terrorists. We spoke to ColoWe found out it was the birthday nel Danny Tirza, the architect of the of a soldier up in the watch tower; 440-mile fence. Only five percent of we formed a semicircle and sang the fence is a wall. The rest comprises Happy Birthday to him in English and wires with 24-hour monitored cameras Hebrew. When one of our group ran and touch sensors. The slightest moveup the stairs to hand him a letter and ment or touch is sensed, without causa bag of goodies, the soldier put his ing electrocution. Within five minutes, hand on his heart, read the letter, and A Yatar counter-terrorism Yatar and Magav soldiers respond. then wiped tears from his eyes. volunteer on the Gaza border How did he decide where to put the You see, no one comes to these fence? He said it was one of the hardest responsibilibrave border police to show how much we care about ties he ever had. He went out of his way to keep Arab them, how much we appreciate them protecting our homes and their vineyards unified, causing him to people with their lives, how we much we pray for zig-zag the fence around hills and valleys to accomthem even in the United States. modate their needs. When I asked him if the Arabs We learned that the commander of this elite Israel appreciated his efforts, he said no. border patrol is an Arab Muslim. At border bases in We spoke with Mieria Pons, a Yatar volunteer with Tulkarm and Kalkiya, I was talking to an Israeli sola 3-year-old, now pregnant with another child. When dier and noticed his first name on his tag was Christian. He told me his elite unit is made up of Christians, we asked if there is anything we can do to help Yatar, she answered right away: they need special bullet/ Druze, Jews, and Muslims — all fluent in Arabic and stab-proof vests. Hebrew. Because they are funded solely through donations, Noting my surprise, he continued, “Do you think they must pay for everything on their own. They can’t we want to live under the oppressive PLO or Hamas afford the $600 vests, even though it would save their or Sharia law? In Israel, we are a free people!” lives. Her words rang in my mind the next day, when On Shabbos afternoon, Khaled Abu Toameh, an we learned that two of the border police soldiers we Israeli-Arab journalist, talked with us about the facts had just been with were stabbed at the Lion’s Gate in on the ground, without holding back. Jerusalem. Both were injured, one very badly. If they “There will never be a two-state solution,” Toameh had been wearing these special vests, they would not said. “There will never be political peace between have been hurt. Israel and the PLO. Even if you gave them 99 percent After seeing the facts on the ground, I realize the of all they want, they will not take it. Why? Because deep bias of the media, and the naiveté of Western their goal is the complete destruction of Israel and the thinking. After witnessing the unbelievable bravery complete dominance of the entire Mideast.” of our people living in Israel — risking their lives and Toameh also told us the Palestinians teach the their children’s lives to keep Israel safe and strong — I children in their schools to hate anyone different from realize that those of us who don’t live in Israel must do more to help, support, and show them we care. So, what do you think? I will raise money for those bullet/stab proof vests. Our Magav soldiers and Yatar volunteers are saving Send your letters (350 words max., thanks) to: us; now we need to save them. The Dayton Jewish Observer, 525 Versailles Drive Dayton, OH 45459 • MWeiss@jfgd.net Goldye Kopmar lives in Dayton. THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • MAY 2017