ART FISHMAN
OUR COMMUNITY LEFT: Michigan Jewish War Veterans and Women’s Auxiliary members march through Corktown during Detroit’s Nov. 6 Veterans Day Parade. BELOW: Michigan Jewish War Veterans Steve Feldman, Art Fishman, Mark Weiss, Bill Glogower, Donald Davis and Dr. George Blum were honorary guests at the Holocaust Memorial Center’s 37th Annual Anniversary Benefit on Nov. 14 at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi.
BRETT MOUNTAIN
Veterans Day Activities
Local Jewish War Veterans participate in several events to mark the day. ALAN MUSKOVITZ CONTRIBUTING WRITER
M
ichigan Jewish War Veterans (JWV) were once again well represented at Veterans Day events this year, both as participants and as honorees. Congregation Shaarey Zedek held its annual Veterans Shabbat on Saturday, Nov. 6. The program featured the Southfield Police Department Color Guard, which led a large processional of veterans down the center aisle of the sanctuary, with proud family members by their sides. Rabbi Aaron Starr offered heartfelt remarks of thanks to our veterans, and Hazzan David Propis regaled the congregation with stirring renditions of the official songs of each branch of our military. JWV members of Shaarey Zedek help lead the special program, which included remarks from Dept. of Michigan Sr. Vice Commander Bill Glogower and Don
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Wagner, Michigan JWV Judge Advocate and chairman of the Shaarey Zedek Veterans Shabbat Committee. Veterans from different eras also were given aliyot throughout the service. JWV-Michigan Chief of Staff Brig. Gen. Don Schenk stepped in to share remarks from Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin (D-8th District). Slotkin, who serves as a member of the U.S. House committees on Armed Services, Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs, was scheduled to appear but official business ended up requiring her to travel to Albania to meet with Afghan refugees. “Our veterans — you all here today and your brothers and sisters across the country — have given us freedom, security and the greatest nation on Earth,” Slotkin said from her prepared remarks read by Schenk. “It is impos-
sible to put a price on that. Thank you for your service to our country. Thank you for your service to our faith. Thank you for your service to our community. And thank you for the example you have set for our kids and grandkids.” The Veterans Shabbat also introduced the winner of Shaarey Zedek’s inaugural Veterans Shabbat Essay Contest, open to teen congregants. Hugh Aaron, an eighth-grader at Detroit Country Day School, was this year’s winner. “Throughout history, Jews have been fierce warriors, from the Maccabeans to the modern IDF,” Aaron said. “Jewish American veterans are no exception,” he added, citing that an estimated 4,000 Jewish Americans currently serve in our armed forces. Under sun-drenched skies on Sunday, Nov. 7, local
JWV and Women’s Auxiliary members turned out in force and were among the caravan of cars and banner-carrying marchers to participate in Detroit’s 16th annual Veterans Day Parade. The festivities included the simultaneous running of the charity “4 Star 4 Mile Race” that followed the same route, winding its way through Corktown on Michigan Avenue and Vernor Highway. Proceeds benefited the parade’s sponsor — the Metropolitan Detroit Veterans Coalition. On Veterans Day, Nov. 11, the JWV was officially recognized during the 17th annual Veterans Day ceremony at the Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly. Sr. Vice Commander Emeritus Arthur Fishman represented the JWV Dept. of Michigan and U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, back from her trip to Albania,
