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May 23, 2003/Iyar 21 5763, Vol. 55, No. 39
Passing the guard
Jewish War Veterans organization seeks young members
LEISAH NAMM
Managing Editor
Since most members of Jewish War Veterans are in their 70s and 80s, it's up to younger veterans to ensure the organization's future existence. But where are they?
"We're always looking for young people," said Dan Weiss of New Jersey, JWV national commander. This has been a challenge for the group that dedicates itself to assisting veterans in ways ranging from volunteering at VA hospitals to fighting for veterans' rights in Washington.
Jewish War Veterans was founded as the Hebrew Union Veterans in New York City in 1896, in response to published accusations that Jews were not patriotic and did not serve during the Civil War, according to the Web site of JWV's Arizona-Nevada Department. The national group currently has more than 100,000 members, Weiss said.
In Arizona, nearly 400 veterans are members of seven JWV posts: five in Phoenix, one in Prescott and one in Tucson, said Jesse Gersten, past commander of the Arizona Council and a member of Post 619 in Sun Lakes.
However, although the posts often gain new members, they are usually transplants from other states, rather than new to the organization, he said. In Phoenix, the average member's age is mid- to upper-60s.
"It seems that younger people are really not interested anymore," said Anita Berman of Scottsdale, treasurer and past president of Ladies Auxiliary, Post 210, a women's group affiliated with JWV that is mostly made up of female veterans and veterans' wives. When younger people see a group of older men, they're not interested in joining, but they could really learn from the older veterans, she said.
One of the rare young people currently involved in a local post is Vincent Weiss of Phoenix, 31, who will begin his term of junior vice commander of Post 194 in June.
The Desert Storm veteran said he initially joined because of family ties - his grandparents are involved and his father is the national commander. "I became more active because I wanted to give back to society what was given to me," he said.
Weiss introduced his friend Douglas Hume, a fellow young veteran who joined JWV as a patron (non-Jewish member), to the group.
"They're a good organization and I wanted to help them out," Hume said.
Hume stressed the importance of younger veterans being involved.
"You start now while you can and while you still have the people that know everything about World War II, and it's also about passing down heritage of the oldest veterans organization," he said.
To help educate the community, JWV has a program called Americanism, in which members speak about patriotism, history and veterans to students in elementary through high schools.
Local posts' monthly meetings often feature guest speakers. Members also present awards to different school districts and ROTC programs, sponsor essay contests and support the Boy Scouts.
The group's primary goal, however, is to assist veterans.
At VA hospitals, members conduct Bingo games, present concerts and volunteer in other ways. They also hold annual poppy drives - selling poppies outside of grocery stores - to raise money for veterans.
"We may be a Jewish organization, but we fight for all veterans," Dan Weiss said.
The seven posts in Arizona make up the Arizona Council; they raise funds individually as well as collaboratively. For instance, the council recently bought 28 televisions for Prescott's VA hospital. The council also donated a van to the Phoenix VA Hospital and is currently raising money to purchase 31 wheelchairs and redo the hospital's hospice rooms, Gersten said. The council is also working toward a monument honoring Jewish war veterans at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona in Phoenix.
In addition, the council donated new flags to fly outside Phoenix's VA hospital. Post 619 will dedicate a flagpole, an American flag and a POW-MIA flag to the All-Faiths Chapel in Sun Lakes during a Memorial Day Service.
Gersten explained that fighting for veterans' rights is a large part of JWV's mission.
"There's some injustice for the veterans who put their lives up voluntarily and don't come back," Gersten said. "Their families get very, very little reimbursement."
Vietnam veterans are likely to be less involved than others, Gersten said. "The Vietnam veterans are very unhappy about the way this country treated them so they don't want anything to do with veterans' associations," he said.
The majority of members are World War II veterans, a small portion are from the Korean War and an even smaller portion are from the Vietnam War, said James Pomush of Mesa, a Vietnam veteran and a member of Post 128. Pomush is also the senior vice commander of the Arizona-Nevada department, which serves as the liaison between the states' councils and the national JWV office.
The involvement of veterans from recent conflicts such as Desert Storm in 1991 and this year's Enduring Freedom determines the future of the organization and its work for veterans of all races and ages. "I think they ought to get organized to protect their future," Gersten said of young veterans.
Many of the posts report no active outreach to young members. "It's difficult soliciting," said Gersten. "We don't do any real advertising. it's strictly word-of-mouth in neighborhoods."
"We do try to attract younger members, but our goal is to help the veterans," Pomush said. "Attracting new members is a secondary goal of ours and we need that just to be able to continue to help the veterans."
At Post 194, the Valley's first post founded in 1957, past department commander Lou Kelter said family-type programming is being introduced. An example is an Adopt-a-Grandparent program with the VA hospital. The post has also started a mentor program, matching up the older members with younger members so "they can pass on their knowledge and their experience," Kelter said.
On a national level, outreach to potential members is being done, Dan Weiss said.
Care packages are sent to all active military currently overseas and include membership applications, and in-service military personnel can join at no charge, he said.
He estimates that there are currently 750 Jewish military personnel overseas, including reservists.
The organization keeps in contact via e-mail with many active Jewish personnel overseas. JWV leaders also visit military bases around the country to introduce JWV to Jewish military personnel, hold oneg Shabbats on the military bases and speak at universities with ROTC programs.
He suggests that local posts "get word out to the families that 'we are here to help you while your son and daughter are overseas.' "
Weiss also encourages members of local posts to "volunteer your services (and) volunteer your time." He suggests presenting guest speakers to the community, speaking to ROTC students at universities, and hosting onegs and holiday celebrations at military bases. "They don't have to be Jewish," Weiss said. "If you get the word out through word of mouth, I strongly believe that the Jewish individuals in the military will come to us."
For more information about local posts, call Jesse Gersten, 480-802-0007 or Lou Kelter, 602-973-2852.
Contact the writer at leisah_namm@jewishaz.com.
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