Stan Shapiro, Commander of Jersey Shore Post 125, Jewish War Veterans (JWV) of the USA.
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor:
Commander Shapiro served during the Korean War.
Norm Ginsburg, the Quartermaster of Post 125 JWV, has sent New Years wishes to the veterans of Post 125. He wished a “healthy and happy New Year, Shanah Tovah, to you and yours on behalf of the officers and Board of Post 125.” He used email. We should have used walkie talkies.
“Shanah Tovah” is a good greeting to say to someone who is Jewish—there are longer versions, but this one will do nicely. It means “Happy New Year.”
Jews have served in all of America’s wars, going back to the Revolutionary War. Post 125 has a surprising number of WW II survivors. Last year they honored 20 WW II vets. But the vast majority of WWII surviving vets are now gone including my 4 Uncles and Eileen’s Dad.
I belong to Post #125 where I sometimes attend their meetings when there is a short program and a free lunch. I will be selling poppies for Veterans Day on Nov 5 and 7 at the Shrewsbury Shop- Rite.
This may be my most dangerous tour of duty given the drivers in those Shop- Rite parking lots. I was a Navy cardiologist during the Vietnam era, but I was stationed at the 1,400 bed Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, Virginia. I fought the Battle of Virginia Beach. We welcomed the POW’s back.
My most dangerous duty then was during formal inspections when my fellow physicians wore swords and thankfully none ever drew one. I still have mine in Ocean Grove in case a Barbary pirate shows up in my bedroom.
Eileen is preparing her annual Rosh Hashanah dinner. She bought a load of food, to be served to 6 1/4 people–including our grandson Noah. Families tend to get smaller as time goes by. This year Noah will be able to sample Eileen’s pot roast. And when he talks, I will teach him his first joke, “Don’t let your pot roast!” (or maybe “Take my wife, please.”)
Here’s a link to last year’s Rosh Hashanah report. You will find a reference to Eileen’s famous pot roast.
Blowing the shofar. Artist unknown. Internet image.
THOMAS WIMMER: “Rachel’s Dance” from an album of Sephardic music from Spain.